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HISTORY 



FORTY-SECOND REGIMEN 



m 



INFANTRY, 



Massachusetts Volunteers, 



1862, 1863, 1864. 



SERGEANT-MAJOR CHARLES P. BOSSON. 



(APR 12 1886 fe^ 



BOSTON: 

MILLS, KNIGHT & CO., PRINTERS, 115 CONGRESS STREET. 
1886. 



Copyrighted by 
CHARLES P. BOSSON. 

iSS6. 






PREFACE. 



'nr^HIS history of the regiment was undertaken by me 
^ at the special request of several officers who knew 
I had written, soon after the term of service expired, 
considerable matter relating thereto, for my own amuse- 
ment and instruction. Without this foundation to work 
on, written when memory was fresh, it is doubtful if a 
history of the regiment could be written, for references 
to many soldiers' diaries disclosed the fact that nearly 
all did not contain detailed accounts of events occur- 
ring at the time entries were made. Few soldiers thought 
any memorandum of theirs would ever become useful 
for a purpose of this kind. Access to the regimental 
books and files of papers has greatly facilitated this 
history. 

I have not been able to write a satisfactory account 
of Companies C and H on detached service, or of 
Company K on detached service, in charge of pontoons. 
I found it impossible to obtain information in a way 
to be of service. 



IV PREFACE. 

I proposed to publish Descriptive Lists of each company 
of the regiment. Upon investigation, and a comparison 
of lists in possession of the War Department, the regi- 
mental descriptive books, and orders of detail, I found 
such a marked difference in Christian names and sur- 
names the idea was abandoned ; besides, such lists would 
prove misleading, as many men enlisted under a false 
age ; those who were too young gave in their age several 
years older than they were, others, too old, made their 
age to meet the requirements of law. The original De- 
scriptive Lists were made up in a hurried, loose manner, 
few officers realizing their importance in after years. 

It is probable certain facts in these pages will appear 
to some readers at this day far different than they would 
had the history been published within a few years after 
the war closed. We have grown older and wiser than 
we were in 1862 and 1863. 

If any of my old comrades in arms shall have passed a 
pleasant hour in reading this history, I shall feel amply 
repaid for time and trouble in its preparation. 

Charles P. Bosson. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 

Organization of Regiment — Camp at Readville— Depart- 
ure FOR New York i 

CHAPTER H. 

En Route — Camp at East New York — On Transports, 19 

CHAPTER in. 

On Board Transports — The Saxon — Quincy — Charles 

Osgood — Shetucket — Quinnebaug .... 38 

CHAPTER IV. 
Galveston 61 

CHAPTER V. 

At Carrollton — Bound for Galveston — Arrival of 

Companies — Camp Mansfield — Details . . .140 

CHAPTER VI. 
February — At Bayou Gentilly — More Details . .154 

CHAPTER VII. 

Enlisted Men Prisoners at Houston — March for the 

Federal Lines — Arrival at New Orleans . > ^73 

CHAPTER VIII. 
At Bayou Gentilly — March — April . . . .197 

CHAPTER IX. 
At Bayou Gentilly — May 226 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER X. 

PAGE. 

Bayou Gentilly — June — Farewell to Gentilly Camp 

— In New Orleans 239 

CHAPTER XI. 
Brashear City 252 

CHAPTER XIL 
Action at La-Fourche Crossing 286 

CHAPTER XIII. 
July — In New Orleans — At Algiers 310 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Companies C and H on Detached Service at Camp 

Parapet ■• . . . 331 

CHAPTER XV. 

Company K in Charge of Pontoons — Baton Rouge — 
Teche Campaign — Siege of Port Hudson — Don- 

ALDSONVILLE — ReTURN TO REGIMENT .... 352 

CHAPTER XVI. 

August — At Algiers — Bound North — On Board "Con- 
tinental"— Arrival Home 378 

CPIAPTER XVII. 

Adventures of Corporal Wentworth and Private 

Hersey 389 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Officers in Confederate Prisons — Houston — State 
Prison — Camp Groce — Camp Ford — En Route Home 

— At Home 415 

CHAPTER XIX. 

In Service for One Hundred Days — Organization — 
Readville — Off for Washington — At Alexandria 

— At Great Falls — Return Home .... 442 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Field and Staff Officers i 

Kuhn's Wharf, Galveston 8i 

Headi^uarters at Bayou Gentilly i6i 



CHAPTER I. 

Organization of Regiment — Camp at Readville — 
Departure for New York. 

AT the time (August 4th, 1862) a draft was ordered by 
President Lincoln for three hundred thousand 
militia to serve for a period of nine months, Colonel 
Isaac S. Burrell was in command of the Second Regi- 
ment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia — an old militia 
organization of the State. General Orders No. 25, issued 
July ist, 1862, by the Commander-in-Chief of the State 
troops, Governor John A. Andrew, notified the militia to 
prepare for a call to service. General Orders No. 34, 
issued August 13th, 1862, by the same authority, notified 
the volunteer militia they would be accepted for nine 
months service. 

In common with other organized and uniformed militia 
organizations in the State, the colonel was instructed by 
officers and men of his command to tender the regiment 
as volunteers for nine months service, and to obtain per- 
mission to recruit up to the requisite strength. Public 
opinion was opposed to a draft at that time, and Governor 
Andrew, by accepting the services of such militia bodies 
as volunteered, affording every facility in his power to 
enable them to recruit up_ to the full maximum of strength, 
avoided the necessity for a draft, made available the ser- 
vices of those officers who eventually recruited their com- 
panies to a war strength, and the rank and file already 
enlisted in the militia — a very fine nucleus to commence 



2 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

with. The intermixing of raw recruits with men of some 
experience of the duties of a soldier tended to greatly 
facilitate the mobilization of the States' quota, and hastened 
the departure of regiments to the field in a tolerable good 
condition for immediate duty. 

The Second Regiment, M. V. M., was one of the regi- 
ments accepted. As there was already a Second Regiment 
(three years troops) in the field, orders were issued des- 
ignating the regiment as the Forty-Second Regiment, M. 
V. M,, and was ordered into a camp of instruction at 
Readville, August 26th, 1862. 

The old Second Regiment, M. V. M., a part of the 
First Brigade, First Division, State Militia, had just com- 
pleted the five days camp duty with the brigade at Med- 
ford, required by law, from August 13th to i8th, and the 
regimental guard, Company C, Captain Leonard, left at 
Medford in charge of the camp equipage, since that 
encampment ended, in anticipation that the regiment 
would be immediately ordered back, was ordered August 
2 2d to strike camp, proceed to Readville early next day, 
and pitch tents upon high ground very near to the Boston 
& Providence Railroad track. The camp was laid out by 
Quartermaster Burrell and Adjutant Davis, assisted by 
men of Company C. Colonel Burrell assumed command 
of all troops rendezvousing there until Brigadier-General 
Peirce was placed in command. 

In addition to this guard, the first detachment of 
about one hundred men, occupied this camp on the 
afternoon of August 26th, and from that time until the 
regiment was complete (November nth), recruiting, equip- 
ping, and instruction occupied the time. The Ninth 
Battery, Captain De Vecchi (enlisting for three years), 
Eleventh Battery, Captain Jones, Forty-Third Regiment, 
Colonel Holbrook, Forty-Fourth Regiment, Colonel Lee, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 3 

and the Forty-Fifth Regiment, Colonel Codman (all enlist- 
ing for nine months), were encamped in- tents and barracks 
at the same place and at the same time. The whole force 
formed a post, commanded by Brigadier-General R. A. 
Peirce, of the State Militia. 

The officers of the old Second Regiment, M. V. M., 
that went into camp with the intention of entering the 
service, if successful in recruiting men to complete their 
companies and the Forty-Second Regiment, were : — 

Colonel — I. S. Burrell. 

Lieutenant-Colonel — T. L. D. Perkins. 

Major — George W. Beach. 

Adjutant — Charles A. Davis. 

Quartermaster — C. B. Burrell, vice James W. Coverly, 
resigned. 

Surgeon — John A. Lamson, resigned August 28th, 1862. 

Company A — Captain, Wm. A. Brabine ; Lieutenants, 
Wm. Kilner and John H. Stevens. 

Company B — Captain, Albert H. Townsend ; Lieu- 
tenants, Artemas Webster and Wm. B. Rand. 

Company C — Captain, O. W. Leonard; Lieutenants, 
I. B. White and Geo. H. Drew. 

Company D — Captain, George Sherive; Lieutenants, 
Wm. H. Cowdin and D. F. Eddy. 

Company E — Captain, Samuel C. Davis; Lieutenants, 
David Hale and Henry Pierce. 

Company F — Captain, Wm. H. Russ; Lieutenants, 
Wm. A. Clark and James C. Singleton. 

Company G — Captain, A. N. Proctor; Lieutenants, 
A. E. Proctor and Charles Jarvis. 

Consideral^le time elapsed before the regiment was full. 
The system adopted by the Governor, of assigning quotas 
to cities and towns, was found to work to the disadvantage 
of the seven original companies comprising the regiment 



4 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

in gaining recruits, as such quotas preferred to enlist in a 
regiment, as a body, under officers of their own choice, 
whenever the quotas were sufficient to form a company, or 
companies. It became evident, early in September, that 
the Forty-Second Regiment could not be filled to ten full 
companies unless some of the original companies gave 
way to such city or town companies as could be secured. 
Colonel Burrell, with his officers and their friends, spent 
time and money, visiting various cities and towns en- 
deavoring to have them join the Forty-Second. 

There being a vacancy of three companies in the 
regiment, Colonel Burrell, although having offers of five 
full companies to join at one time, thought he could con- 
scientiously accept of only three, viz., one from Weymouth, 
one from Medway, and one from Dorchester, preferring to 
let the other two join some other regiment, and to wait a 
short time longer, in hope that officers recruiting for the 
original seven companies would have full commands in a 
short time, although recruiting was very, very dull at the 
time for four of those companies. When two of the old 
companies, D and G, were full to the maximum, and the 
third, Company C, was progressing favorably, it was evi- 
dent Companies A, B, E and F could not be recruited, 
and were delaying formation of the regiment. 

Company H, recruited by Captain Bailey, was about 
full. This company was not in the old Second Regiment. 
Bailey had some sort of authority to recruit a company, 
and expressed a desire to become a part of the Forty- 
Second. He made his headquarters at Readville, and 
sent men into camp often. There was a great deal of 
bounty jumping in this company before it was mustered 
in. The keeping of a correct list of men sent to camp 
by the captain was a tough job, as the adjutant and ser- 
geant-major well remember. What blunders were made, 



IMASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 5 

or obstacles met and overcome by Captain Bailey, no one 
can tell, for the captain kept his own counsel. 

In Company B, Captain Townsend was very trouble- 
some. In September he carried his supposed grievances 
so far as to remain away from camp, and order his men 
to keep away also. This culminated on the eighteenth, 
when Colonel Burrell requested the adjutant-general to 
discharge him ; also recommended that Companies B and 
C be consolidated, and that Company C be the nucleus 
and letter of the new company. Orders w^ere issued by 
the Governor disbanding A, B, E and F, transferring the 
men to other companies. The Weymouth company was 
designated Company A ; Medway company, Company B ; 
Dorchester company. Company I ; and steps w^ere taken 
to try and secure town quotas to fill the three companies 
required to complete the regiment. 

During October the Governor decided to consolidate 
certain regiments, in order to remedy an apparent evil, 
and get the troops into the field as soon as possible. More 
regiments were being recruited in the State than could be 
filled by the State quota of nine months volunteers. The 
Forty-Second and Fifty-Fourth regiments had the smallest 
number of men mustered into service ; the Forty-Second 
having seven companies, the Fifty-Fourth, six companies. 
Three companies from Worcester County, viz., from 
Leicester, Captain Cogswell, Worcester, Captain Stiles, 
Ware, Captain Davis, of the Fifty-Fourth, were transferred 
to the Forty-Second regiment. One company of the Fift}'- 
Fourth was transferred to the Fiftieth Regiment, two com- 
panies of the Fifty- Fourth to the Fifty-First Regiment, and 
the Fifty-Fourth Regiment was disbanded. 

All through the attempt to recruit the regiment to its 
maximum strength, Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins and Major 
Beach, instead of rendering any valuable service in that 



6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

direction, were hampering the efforts of others. A jeal- 
ousy sprang up in the breasts of these two officers against 
the colonel, born from what no one seems to know, and 
it is doubtful if they knew themselves. This jealous feel- 
ing was intensified when Companies A, B, E and F were 
disbanded, opening the way for three new companies from 
city and town quotas to take their places. With only three 
companies remaining of the old Second Regiment, a tri- 
angular fight sprang up for the positions of colonel, 
lieutenant-colonel and major ; elective in all nine months 
troops from Massachusetts, line officers casting the ballots. 
Officers of the three Worcester County companies held 
the balance of power. They were desirous of obtaining 
for field officers the best men they could find in the regi- 
ment. A council was held one evening, seated in a circle 
upon the grass some distance from quarters, where the 
matter was fully discussed. It was finally decided to vote 
for Isaac S. Burrell for colonel, as he was well known 
to most of them as an old militia officer ; for Captain 
Stedman, Company B, to be lieutenant-colonel, as he had 
been highly recommended to them by officials connected 
with the Norwich, Vermont, Military Academy (where 
Stedman formerly held a position as instructor in military 
tactics), with whom a correspondence was carried on with- 
out the knowledge of Captain Stedman ; for Captain 
Stiles, Company E, to be major, as they all knew him to 
be an excellent officer. The question of proportioning 
the field positions so as to recognize the new companies 
that had joined the regiment did not enter into their 
discussions at all. 

The election occurred on Thursday afternoon, Novem- 
ber 6th, at regimental headquarters. Every line officer was 
present. Brigadier-General Peirce was presiding officer, 
with acting Post-Adjutant Lieutenant Partridge, Company 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



7 



B, recording officer. The vote for colonel stood twenty- 
eight for I. S. Burrell and two for T. L. D. Perkins. The 
vote for lieutenant-colonel stood sixteen for Captain Joseph 
Stedman, ten for Lieutenant-Colonel T. L. D. Perkins, two 
for Major George W. Beach, and two for Captain A. N. 
Proctor. The vote for major stood seventeen for Captain 
F. G. Stiles, three for Major George W. Beach, and ten 
for Captain A. N. Proctor. 

Friends of Captain Proctor based his claim for the 
positions of lieutenant-colonel and major on the fact that 
he was the senior captain, a valid claim, which would have 
had weight with officers holding the balance of power if 
they had known more of his military history at that time. 
His friends did not press his claim until it was evident 
Perkins and Beach could not be elected."^ 

The dates of muster into the United States service are 
as follows: 

Company A — September 13, 1862. 
B- " 13, 

C — October 11, 
« D — September 19, 



E — 




30. 


F — 




30, 


G — 




16, 


H — 




24, 


I — 




16, 


K — 


October 


14, 



The field and staff were commissioned November 6th, 1862, 
and mustered in November nth, 1862. The time of the 
regiment commenced from October 14th, 1862. 

♦The wounds of disappointment inflicted by this election were never fully healed, 
but did not interfere with all of the officers doing their duty as they understood it. 
In very small things did any feeling show itself afterwards, and not then until 
the lieutenant-colonel was in command, while the colonel was a prisoner. 



5 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

It would be a hard task to pick out a finer body of men 
than composed the rank and file of the Forty-Second 
Regiment as it now stood, containing men from all ranks 
of life and all grades of society. A few bad men were 
enlisted, 'tis true, but less than the usual proportion found 
in regiments formed and enlisted as this was. About one- 
tenth, or say nearly one hundred men, were of that 
disposition and temperament, in case of going into action 
the very best thing to be done with them, for the safety of 
the regiment, would be. to hurl them into a ditch with 
orders to stay there until the fighting was over. That the 
record of the regiment does not equal the best from 
Massachusetts was due to events over which it had no 
control. The material was there, the courage was there ; 
it needed merely a baptism fire to fully acquaint the rank 
and file with the smell of powder, and then opportunities 
to prove their metal. 

Life in camp at Readville was by no means monotonous. 
During August, September, and part of October, the men 
were under canvas. Regular routine duties of camp were 
performed, and the hours after duty were passed in social 
pleasures, which only those who have a natural taste for 
the life of a soldier, or young novices in camp life, know 
how to enjoy. The weather, for a large portion of the 
time, was glorious. The surrounding scenery at Readville 
is very fine, as any person who has visited the ground can 
testify. As the facilities for visiting from Boston were 
very good, via the Boston and Providence Railroad, also 
by splendid drives over excellent roads, all of the troops 
concentrated there, over three thousand men, had many 
visitors to while away the time when off duty, causing the 
various camps to have a gala appearance at all parades of 
ceremony, such as guard mounting, dress parades and 
reviews. Bands of music were specially engaged at various 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 9 

times to assist in these parades, much to the gratification 
of the men. All day long the rat-a-tap of the drums was 
to be heard, as the newly-organized drum corps attached 
to the regiments went on with their practice. It was a 
continual scene of excitement, without d*anger, until orders 
came for the various bodies to move. Between other 
regiments and the Forty-Second there was not much social 
intercourse, except in a few instances. There appeared 
to exist a feeling that the Forty-Second did not amount 
to much.* 

Surgeon Cummings, appointed vice Lamson resigned, 
commenced his duties and reports September 6th, at once 
taking hold of matters with a will and devotion to the 
interests of men in camp characteristic of him.t With a 
sharp eye kept on the rations, cooking, sanitary condition 
of grounds and quarters, hardly a day passed without his 
embodying some suggestion of importance in his daily 
reports to the colonel. At first he had great difficulty in 
getting first-sergeants of companies to answer properly 
the surgeon's call at his quarters in the morning, whereby 
some men were neglected who were sick in quarters and 
were not reported. He maintained his right, by virtue of 
the army regulations then in force, demanding that the 
first-sergeants, or those acting in their stead, attend the 
call punctually, report in writing all on sick furlough, all 
sick in quarters and unable to attend, and cause all who 
were sick so as to incapacitate them from duty, or claimed 
to be so, to appear at his quarters, where each company 

* Among the members of a band occasionally engaged for duty on Smidays at Read- 
ville Camp was Mariani, the old drum-major of Gilmore's Band when at the zenith of 
its fame in Boston. Signior (as he was called) Mariani was a man of commanding 
presence, very tall and very heavy in build. He was a jolly companion, full of anec- 
dote regarding his native land, Italy. His one time, two time, three time story has 
never been forgotten by those who had the pleasure of hearing it. 

t Cummings served in the Army of the Potomac, between Yorktown and Rich- 
mond ; also did duty in the Yorktown and Portsmouth Grove general hospitals. 



lO HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

would be called in turn, prescribed for, and the men sent 
to quarters, to hospital, on furlough, to easy duty or full 
duty; and if after the morning call any were taken sick, 
a sergeant or corporal in all cases be sent with them to his 
quarters, or to summon him to see them at their own 
quarters when too sick to go to his tent. By hammering 
away he finally got this system at work to his satisfaction. 
He calculated to keep the run of all sick men in the regi- 
ment, as was his duty, and did not want any one to say he 
had been neglected. Companies C and H gave the sur- 
geon much trouble, and ruffled his temper, because not 
able to obtain any report from them, day after day, even 
after they were mustered into service. 

The regimental hospital tent was one of the first things 
to occupy his attention. By constant efforts on his part 
and of Colonel Burrell, he was able to report on the 
twentieth of September that he was supplied with all the 
medicines needed ; on the eighteenth of October that the 
hospital tent was ready for such patients as needed treat- 
ment there, with accommodations for ten patients — in his 
opinion the best at the post. On the second of October, 
and up to that date, accommodations in regimental hos- 
pital had been such, and those unfit in the estimation of 
the surgeon, that only two men could be received. Until 
the hospital was ready, the practice was to allow sick men 
to go home on furlough if unfit for duty. A few of the 
men attempted to play "old soldier," but very soon ex- 
posed themselves in some way, and had to do double duty 
as the penalty. Surgeon Cummings could not be fooled 
very long. 

In the matter of police duty in the camp, he kept a 
careful watch to see whether the officer of the day had 
sinks properly attended to. Cook houses, cooking utensils 
and their care were often inspected by him ; also the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. II 

cooking and food for rations. The guard quarters fre- 
quently had his inspection, nor was he forgetful of the 
sentries on night duty, many times recommending that hot 
coffee be served to them when the nights were cold. With 
constant persevering efforts and rigid rules the camp was 
kept very free from filth and vermin, that curse of military 
camps in general. 

Most of the sick cases were from slight ailments. All 
serious cases were furloughed home, and for a greater 
part of the time the average sick was quite small ; the 
camp continued to remain in a healthy condition. Some 
cases of scarlet fever appeared in October and November. 
Prompt isolation of persons affected prevented any spread 
of this disease. One fatal case occurred in the regiment 
previous to leaving the State — Private Robert T. Morse, 
of Company B, died October 4th, 1862. While in regimental 
hospital his symptoms not being favorable he was taken 
home by relatives and died there. In October the surgeon 
discovered that Private Warren J. Partridge, Company B, 
twenty-three years old, had an aneurism of the right sub- 
clavian artery, liable to burst and destroy his life at any 
moment, and recommended a discharge from the service. 
Private Partridge was discharged October 2 2d. The sur- 
geon also reported on October 2 2d that one of the cases 
in hospital he believed to be feigned. Private Abner Ward, 
of Company C. He had learned Ward was determined 
to get a discharge at all hazards, and was fifty-two years 
old. Ward enlisted as forty-four years of age, never went 
with the regiment, and did obtain a discharge for dis- 
ability March 12th, 1863. 

Assistant-Surgeon Hitchcock was appointed and assigned 
to the regiment by the surgeon-general of the State, report- 
ing for duty in September. Before leaving the State there 
were no opportunities to judge of his capacity. He made 



12 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

a favorable impression on some and was not liked by- 
others. His appearance and conversation was that of a 
young graduate from college. The reason he failed to 
satisfy men of the regiment while in the field may partially 
be traced to early impressions he made upon them at 
Readville. 

The rations furnished while in camp were good, and 
could not cause complaint. So near home, with many 
friends, pocket money plenty, the regular rations were 
supplemented by extras to such an extent that it may 
be said most of the men fared sumptuously. Notwith- 
standing all this, the natural instinct of a soldier in camp 
or on active service, to forage, would make itself manifest 
in spite of extra precautions taken to prevent it. A 
supper, participated in by a favored few one evening, was 
one of the pleasant events of this camp. Those invited 
were pledged not to ask questions. As chicken after 
chicken was brought forth from a ground-hole inside of the 
tent, the reason was obvious. It would have been awkward 
for some persons present to have asked questions and been 
told the truth, for frequent complaints of despoiled hen- 
roosts had been made by residents in adjacent farm-houses, 
and all officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, were 
ordered to keep a sharp lookout for chickens served as 
rations, and to follow up the clue so obtained. 

The non-commissioned staff made an attempt to form 
a mess, with an arrangement made with one of the com- 
pany cooks to attend to the cooking. The plan worked 
well for a short time. The sharp appetites of all who 
composed that mess got the better of their willingness to 
allow fair play and a fair chance for all to sit down and 
have a proper share of what was on the mess table, so 
the unlucky member who was late would find nothing to 
eat. Dissatisfaction was expressed by the unlucky mem- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 3 

ber at such times, which was to be expected, but precious 
little satisfaction could he get. One after another with- 
drew until there was not enough left to stand the expense, 
when the non-commissioned staff mess became a thing of 
the past. No attempt was ever made to revive it. 

To vary the monotony of company and battalion drills, 
that had been pushed ever since camp was located, short 
practice marches were made from camp in different direc- 
tions over the various roads in the vicinity. -The day 
after a march made October 9th, Surgeon Cummings, in 
his morning report, commented as follows : " The march 
of yesterday had its usual effect upon those not in perfect 
health, of which class there are always more or less in 
every regiment. A larger proportion, however, than usual, 
will, I believe, be found in this regiment capable of endur- 
ing severe and exhausting hardships, which are unavoidable 
in the field." Throughout October the weather could not 
have been better. What with the bracing air, constant 
out-door exercise, plain food, strict regularity of meals 
and good hours for sleep, it was astonishing to see how 
tough and hardy those men became who had heretofore 
led a sedentary and confined life in counting-rooms. The 
greater number of this class of men afterwards stood fatigue 
of campaign service much better than those who appeared 
to be healthier and stronger. In fact, the men who were 
strong, from having out-door occupations, were among the 
first to break down when hot weather set in, while serving 
in the Nineteenth Corps. 

On the departure of the Forty-Fourth Regiment for 
North Carolina, October 22d, the Forty-Second struck its 
camp, occupied the barracks vacated by that regiment, 
and rapidly improved in discipline and drill. On going 
into the barracks of the Forty-Fourth they were found to 
be in a dirty and filthy condition. It was hard work 



14 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

policing the grounds and cleaning up quarters before the 
surgeon would be satisfied with the sanitary condition of 
grounds and barracks. The regimental camp hospital was 
removed to the barrack hospital on the twenty-third, much 
against the judgment oi Surgeon Cummings, who expressed 
a preference for his tent as long as the weather was not 
too cold. In his morning report of October 23d, Cummings 
says, "The removing of the camp from its present site to 
that lately occupied by the Forty-Fourth Regiment in this 
weather will, I fear, cause more or less sickness from 
exposure ; but the men stand camp life remarkably well 
— much better than we had any reason to expect. The 
field, barracks, cook-houses, hospital, wells, and especially 
the sinks, lately occupied and used by the Forty-Fourth 
Regiment were left in the most dirty and filthy condition 
imaginable. I was astonished to find a camp which had 
been reported to the surgeon-general as a pattern of 
neatness and excellent sanitary regulation in such an 
exceedingly filthy condition, especially the sinks. They 
evidently have not been filled in for more than a week, to 
say the least. I shall report to the surgeon-general the 
exact state, as near as possible, in which the camp was 
left for us." 

November was a cold month. On the seventh a severe 
north-east snow-storm was experienced, causing much 
inconvenience and suffering, as stoves had not been placed 
in the barracks. The next day this was remedied by 
obtaining stoves from the Forty- Fifth Regiment barracks. 

Orders were originally prepared for the regiment to 
proceed to Newbern, N. C, but Colonel Sprague, Fifty- 
First, who had served under General Foster, wishing to do 
so again, an interview was held with Adjutant-General 
Schouler by the two colonels, and as Colonel Burrell 
expressed a preference to serve under General Banks, the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 5 

original orders were destroyed ; orders were then issued 
to report to Major-General N. P. Banks in New York, to 
form a part of his expedition, or " Banks' expedition " as it 
was publicly known. 

The regiment left Readville at one o'clock in the after- 
noon, Friday, November 21st, in a heavy rain-storm, via 
Boston and Providence Railroad, by cars to Groton, Conn., 
thence by steamer Commodore to New York. 

The original mustered strength of the regiment was 
as follows : 

Field and Staff, 9 officers, 9 total. 

Non-Commissioned Staff, 5 enlisted men, 5 " 



Company 


A, 


3 


officers. 


» 94 


u 


B, 


3 


(< 


92 


'( 


c, 


3 


u 


88 


(( 


D, 


3 


li 


86 


u 


E, 


3 


il 


79 


u 


F, 


3 


ii 


88 


u 


G, 


3 


a 


96 


<( 


H, 


3 


a 


88 


u 


I, 


3 


a 


92 


a 


K, 


3 


ii 


86 



95 




91 




89 




82 




91 




99 




9^ 




95 




Ro 





The following men had been discharged for disability 
before leaving the State : 

Company A, Private Joseph Viger, November 18,1862. 
" A, " Bernard Doherty, " 18, " 

A, " James C. Wendall, " 18, " 

B, " WarrenJ.Partridge,October22, " 
" F, " James O. Boyd, November 19, " 

F, " Henry W. Pratt, " 19, " 

'* F, " Anthony Sherman, " 19, '^ 

K, " William B. Gould, " 18, '' 

There were left behind, in the State, the following 



1 6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

officer and enlisted men, on detached service, sick, or 
in jail : 

Lieutenant D. A. Partridge, Company B — Remained at 
Readville camp by orders of Colonel Da}^, issued October 
27th, 1862, on detached duty, looking out for deserters; six 
men were returned to the regiment through him. There 
was some difficulty and correspondence relating to his 
rejoining the regiment. A feud existed between Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Stedman and Partridge, occasioned by the 
election for captain in Company B, when Partridge was 
jumped over by Cook, through interference of Stedman, 
so Partridge claims. Stedman lost friends in the regi- 
ment by his action. Lieutenant Partridge was mustered 
out of service March 5th, 1863, to accept a commission in 
the. Fifty-Fifth Regiment. 

Private Newman B. Luce, Company E — Sick in hospital 
at Camp Wool, Worcester, since October 2d, 1862. Re- 
joined his company April 9th, 1863. 

Private Frederick A. Mahan, Company E — Sick in 
hospital at Camp Wool, since October loth, 1862. Re- 
joined his company April 9th, 1863. 

Private Asa Breckenridge, Company K — Sick in hos- 
pital at Readville. Sent home to Worcester, November 
i2th, 1862. Did not rejoin the regiment. 

Private John W. Sheppard, Company K — Sick in hos- 
pital at Readville. Sent home to Warren, Mass., November 
1 2th, 1862. Discharged for disability April 8th, 1863. 

Private Abner C. Ward, Company C — Shot himself to 
escape duty. Left at Hopkinton, Mass. Discharged for 
disability March 12th, 1863. 

Private George A. Davis, Company D — Sick at home 
in Roxbury, Mass., since November 21st, 1862. Rejoined 
his company May i6th, 1863. 

Private John O'Harran, Company D — Confined in 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 7 

Dedham jail on sentence for manslaughter; killing a 
citizen in a drunken brawl at Mill Village, Dedham, Mass. 
Never rejoined his company. 

Private John Nolan, Company D — Confined in Ded- 
ham jail as a witness in O'Harran's case. Released and 
joined the regiment February 4th, 1863. 

Private Thomas H. Rillian, Company D — At home 
sick. Discharged for disability March 7th, 1863. 

Private John A. Pierce, Company H — At home sick. 
Discharged for disability March 5th, 1863. 

Private Charles H. Hill, Company I — Sick in hospital 
at Readville, November 2 2d, 1862. Discharged for dis- 
ability March 28th, 1863. 

Others were also left, but they reported in camp at 
East New York before the regiment sailed for New 
Orleans. 

The roster of the regiment was as follows : 

Colonel — Isaac S. Burrell. 
Lieutenant-Colonel — Joseph Stedman. 
Major — Frederick G. Stiles. 
Adjutant — Charles A. Davis. 
Quartermaster — Charles B. Burrell. 
Surgeon — Arial I. Cummings. 
Assistant-Surgeon — Thomas B. Hitchcock. 
Assistant-Surgeon — Rush B. Heintzelman. 
Chaplain — George J. Sanger. 
Sergeant-Major — Charles P. Bosson, Jr. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant — Henry C. Foster. 
Commissary-Sergeant — William H. Hutchinson. 
Hospital-Steward — Charles J. Wood. 
Drum-Major — Richard A. Neuert. 
Company A — Captain, Hiram S. Coburn ; Lieutenants, 
Martin Burrell, Jr. and John P. Burrell. 



i8 



HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



Company B — Captain, Ira B. Cook ; Lieutenants, David 
A. Partridge and Joseph C. Clifford. 

Company C — Captain, Orville W. Leonard ; Lieutenants, 
Isaac B. White and Joseph Sanderson, Jr. 

Company D — Captain, George Sherive ; Lieutenants, 
William H. Cowdin and Darius F. Eddy. 

Company E — Captain, Charles A. Pratt; Lieutenants, 
John W. Emerson and Brown P. Stowell. 

Company F — CajDtain, John D. Cogswell ; Lieutenants, 
Timothy M. Duncan and Lyman A. Powers. 

Company G — Captain, Alfred N. Proctor; Lieutenants, 
Albert E. Proctor and Thaddeus H. Newcomb. 

Company H — Captain, Davis W. Bailey ; Lieutenants, 
Charles C. Phillips and Augustus L. Gould. 

Company I — Captain, Cyrus Savage ; Lieutenants, 
Samuel F. White and Benjamin F. Bartlett. 

Company K — Captain, George P. Davis; Lieutenants, 
Henry A. Harding and J. Martin Gorham. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 9 



CHAPTER II. 

En Route — Camp at East New York — On Transports. 

ON arrival at Groton, the men were immediately 
marched aboard the steamer Commodore^ owned 
by Commodore Vanderbilt, exclusively used for transport 
service since the war commenced. Owing to a dense 
fog which prevailed and stormy character of the weather, 
it was near two o'clock Saturday morning before the boat 
left her pier. 

At this place the regiment came near losing the sergeant- 
major. After the men had filed aboard and been assigned 
positions upon the boat, he went ashore to take a look 
around the wharf, to ascertain if all stragglers had reported 
on board ; while doing so, the darkness causing all lights 
to be very indistinct, he was about to walk off the dock 
when a friendly voice of caution was heard just in the 
nick of time. Dressed in a great coat, with belt and 
sword, and heavy knapsack strapped upon his back, to have 
dropped into the chilly water on that cold night was 
almost certain to have ended his life. 

Only those who have participated in like occasions can 
imagine the scene that presented itself on board the 
Conunodore. One would think this body of over nine 
hundred men were bound on a picnic rather than a duty 
which involved life or death. No one could foretell what 
the future had in store for him, whether a victim to 
disease, maimed or diseased for life, death upon the field, 
temporary sufferings from curable wounds, or a return 



2 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

home in as good health and spirits as when he left. They 
took the risk. They should have credit for the courage 
to do so. 

A trip through the cars while e7i route from Readville 
Camp showed the men to be in rather a sober state of 
mind. Nothing gloomy about them, but very thoughtful. 
The car containing the field, staff and line officers, had the 
appearance of a silent prayer meeting. The colonel was 
quite meditative. Parting with wife and children was no 
easy matter to a man of his noble disposition. Many men 
had been married only a few weeks or months, and to 
them the enforced separation was keenly felt. As the 
day was rainy a very limited number of friends were 
present in camp to say good-by, and affecting parting 
incidents were not so many as they otherwise would have 
been. All homesick feelings passed away when the regi- 
ment reached Groton, and each man was himself again. 

The quartermaster and commissary stores, ammunition 
and horses were in cars on the fore part of the train, in 
charge of detailed men. The jolliest crowd upon the 
train was in the ammunition car, composed of Sam 
Hersey, the colonel's clerk. Sergeant Courtney, Sergeant- 
Major Bosson, and Sergeant Wentworth. 

With singing, dancing, card playing, frollicking, and 
cutting up pranks of various sorts, time passed rapidly. 
There were parties who did not sleep at all that night. 
Those who have ever been on excursions such as used to 
be indulged in by the old militia organizations, can form 
some idea of the manner in which the night was passed. 

Owing to the late hour of leaving Groton the Commodore 
did not arrive at New York until noon of Saturday. 
Rations had been issued, to be carried in haversacks, 
sufficient to last three meals to each man ; but with that 
carelessness so habitual to a raw soldier the rations lasted 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 2 1 

a majority of them for one meal ; the consequence was, 
that on arrival at New York, the men were tired, very 
hungry, and very cross. About dusk orders were received 
to proceed to the Union Race Course at East New York, 
and report to Colonel Chickering, Forty-First Massachu- 
setts Volunteers, commanding the post. The steamer 
Commodore was then lying at Williamsburg. The baggage 
wanted immediately was packed and sent forward ; the 
troops filed out of the steamer, forming regimental line in 
South Second Street. The citizens (noble hearted people) 
furnished the entire regiment with hot coffee, crackers, 
fresh bread, cheese and cold meats. Some ladies went so 
far as to furnish hot pies, baking and dealing them out 
while the men were halted, refreshing themselves in their 
neighborhood. By eight o'clock the entire body was 
amply refreshed and ready to commence the ten-mile 
march which was before them. All through the City of 
Williamsburg the regiment was greeted with cheers, wav- 
ings of handkerchiefs, expressions of good-will, and all 
those demonstrations which proved a people's interest in 
the cause for which the men were enlisted. While this 
excitement continued the column was steady enough, but 
after the populous part of the city was passed and the 
muddy road was reached, with all quiet outside of the 
column, straggling commenced. The weight of knap- 
sack, gun and ammunition pouch began to be felt ; feet 
became sore ; silence reigned in the ranks, and nought 
could be heard save the rattling of the drums at the head 
of the column, the solid tramp, splash, tramp, splash, or 
words of command fromi officers. 

The night was dark as black pitch, the road rapidly 
became worse as the regiment advanced, the weather 
became very cold, with strong, chilly, wintry blasts, so 
that by the time Hiram Woodruff's hotel and stables was 



2 2 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

reached the men were not in the best of spirits to receive 
the intelligence imparted to them. It was here Colonel 
Chickering had his headquarters. When Colonel Burrell 
reported himself and command for instructions, he was 
ordered to the race-course to feed the men, and procure 
the best quarters possible. There were some four thous- 
and men already in camp and bivouac. No ground had 
been allotted the regiment, and no tents were to be had, 
so that soon after reaching the race-course the regiment 
countermarched back to Woodruff's stables, and the men 
were ordered to find shelter for the night in the horse-stalls, 
hen-houses, etc., to the best of their ability. The One 
Hundred and Sixty First New York Infantry had arrived 
but a short time previous, and were placed in a similar 
position. How the various companies of the regiment 
passed the night would be an interesting history by itself, 
suffice it to record every man survived, and in the morn- 
ing, on forming regimental line, none seemed the worse 
for a little hard experience so early in his military career. 
On arrival at New York the colonel, quartermaster, and 
adjutant, reported to General Banks. Requisition was 
made at once on Post-Quartermaster Colonel Van Vliet 
for camp equipage. Adjutant Davis was left to get this 
camp equipage en route for the camp-ground, and had a 
tough time to obtain drays and induce the drivers to start 
for East New York. The late hour when all was ready made 
it necessary to persistently stick to the work, or else it 
would not have been accomplished. This camp equipage 
arrived during the night, ready for use the next morning. 
Camp was pitched on Sunday, a bitter cold day, and 
from this time until the day it was vacated the regular 
routine of camp life was done. At first the cold weather 
occasioned much distress, but moderating in a few days 
comparative comfort was experienced. Most of the men, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 23 

with " Yankee " ingenuity, built underground ovens in 
their tents with a passage to the outside for escape of 
smoke. Towards night these ovens were filled with wood 
and a fire started, which generally would last all night, 
enabling occupants, with the aid of straw bedding, to 
keep tolerably warm. Every night huge bonfires were 
made at the head of each company street, and around 
them the men would cluster and discuss their treatment, 
talk of those at home, crack jokes, sing songs, tell stories 
(some of them good, others not good), while few of a 
philosophical turn of mind indulged in speculations as to 
the future. The poor fellows on sentry duty had a hard 
time ; the guard reliefs would gather about a bonfire in 
front of the guard tents roasting the side of their bodies 
nearest the fire while the other side was freezing, then 
reverse this position and thaw out one side while the other 
froze again. During the eleven days in camp here a large 
amount of wood was consumed, in order to keep warm. 
Many trees in rear of the camp were cut down and burned, 
besides the amount of wood allowed by Government 
and drawn through the quartermaster, for the nights 
would be cold even when the days were comfortable. 

There were two evils under which the troops suffered 
while at this post : rations, and officers on leave of 
absence. Instead of allowing rations to be drawn in 
kind, a post-kitchen had been established ; somebody 
having contracted with some United States official to 
furnish cooked rations at so much a ration. This some- 
body must have realized a very large amount of greenbacks 
by the operation. Frequently the food was not fit for 
dogs to eat. Not once could the coffee be drank without 
creating a nausea. This necessary article would be drawn 
by the company cooks from the post-kitchen in pails, and 
then thrown away, alleging, as a reason for doing so, that 



24 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

SO much was stopped from delivery to the rest of the 
troops in camp. At times the meat served out was 
eatable, but often better fitted to be used as manure than 
to sustain life in a human being. The bread was good, 
and on this, with clear, cold water, most of the men 
subsisted. Some companies did manage to obtain a little 
good coffee and cheese, from New York City, on their 
private account. To such a pitch had the feelings of 
men been wrought by this one item of bad rations, 
when the post commissary building caught fire one day, 
not a soldier would lend a helping hand to quench the 
flames until it was announced that the post hospital was 
over the cook-house. They then worked with a will to stop 
the fire. In the month of December, a few weeks after the 
regiment had left, this same cook-house caught fire again, 
and was burnt to the ground. It is supposed to have 
been designedly set on fire by soldiers then in camp. 
After this was done Government rations were issued 
according to army regulations. When the Forty-Second 
got orders to leave camp. Colonel Burrell had a wordy 
fight with the contractor who furnished rations, as he 
refused to sign a receipt for full rations, telling him the 
whole scheme was a fraud. Time was precious, and a 
compromise was arrived at by Burrell consenting to sign 
a receipt for one-third the number of rations claimed to 
have been issued. 

All furloughs or leaves of absence had to be granted by 
Colonel Chickering. Battalion commanders had no right 
to grant them. Field officers were obliged to be absent 
more or less on business. Line officers of the regiment 
were continually away on furlough, to visit New York 
City, often without leave, taking the liberty without apply- 
ing for it in the regular way. At this time the discipline 
of the enlisted men was far ahead of that shown by 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 25 

their officers. Orders were frequently received from post 
headquarters when no commissioned officer could be found 
in camp to take them. The regular drills would, in most 
cases, have to be conducted by non-commissioned officers, 
in the absence of those in commission. Is it to be 
wondered at, with such a state of things existing among 
the officers, that the men should adopt the same policy .? 
If a furlough was not granted run the guard and be absent 
on " French leave," as it was termed. There were some 
forty cases, on an average, each day, of men absent with- 
out leave. 

True to his duty and profession. Surgeon Cummings 
had the hospital tent put up and placed in order imme- 
diately after the camp-ground was selected. Those who 
were under his treatment can testify to his care of them, 
and the amount of work he did to keep the sick in good 
spirits. He labored under extraordinary difficulties at 
this particular time, with several serious cases on his 
hands. Four of them had to be left in hospital when the 
regiment proceeded to embark on transports, viz.. Private 
Abijah S. Tainter, Company E, Private Charles S. Knight, 
Company F, Private Paschal E. Burnham, Company G, 
and Private George A. Gushing, Company A. 

Gushing, Knight and Burnham did not rejoin the regi- 
ment, being discharged and mustered out of service 
during the Spring of 1863. Tainter never rejoined his 
company, and was not mustered out until the expiration 
of service by the regiment. 

One peculiar case under the surgeon's care deserves 
mention. A private from one of the companies was in 
hospital sick. It was difficult to diagnosis his case. There 
was no trace of disease except his complaint of being 
sick. He was in the hospital about two days, eating 
heartily, sleeping soundly, generally enjoying the snug 



26 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 

place like an epicure. The surgeon got mad. It is usual 
to make convalescents in camp hosj^itals do some light 
work when there is any to do and they are capable of 
doing it. He set this fellow to do some light chores 
in the tent, when his peculiar disease developed itself 
suddenly. It was laziness. To square accounts with the 
impostor, Cummings pronounced him cured, but, before 
discharging him from the sick-list to duty, said he must 
take a bath ; upon disrobing himself his shirt and flannels 
were found literally alive with vermin; they could not 
be cleaned ; a hole was dug in the ground, a fire made, 
when the clothing, with vermin, was burned. The fellow 
was too lazy to keep himself clean. 

Cummings enjoyed a good smoke before going to sleep. 
A look into his tent any night after he had retired would 
show him to be covered up to his chin with coverlids, a 
night-cap on almost covering his eyes, and from the small 
exposed part of his face volumes of smoke would be 
rolling upward from an old clay pipe seen in his mouth. 
Those who were aware of this habit used to think it a 
good joke to invite anybody to take a peep into the tent 
and see the surgeon at his devotions. 

Thanksgiving Day found most of the companies with 
enough turkey and chicken to go around. Where they 
came from is not a mystery. Some from home, but not 
all. The complaints of farmers near by, who had poultry 
to lose, destroys all mystery about it. To the credit of 
the regiment be it said that this was the only time when 
any foraging was done clandestinely while at East New 
York. The justification must rest on the ground of 
neglect by proper officers to furnish proper food. 

The City Government of Boston having generously 
furnished the regiment with a complete set of band 
instruments, which were received December ist, while at 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 27 

East New York, a band was organized from the rank and 
file, consisting of the following members, viz.: 

1. Bugler Joseph R. Parks, Company D, Leader. 

2. Drummer Frederick L. Bowditch, Company A. 

3. Private George A. Morse, Company B. 

4. Private Joseph Clark, Company B. 

5. Bugler Bernard McKenna, Company C — in Feb- 
ruary, 1863, gave up his connection with the band and 
joined his company at Camp Parapet, La. 

6. Corporal Frederick S. Mcintosh, Company D — 
was completely prostrated by long sickness, and dis- 
charged from the service in June, 1863, for disability. 

7. Private Edmund L. Chenery, Company D. 

8. Private Francis L. Howard, Company E. 

9. Drummer Frank Lamb, Company F. 

10. Corporal Charles H. Woodcock, Company F — gave 
up his warrant in March, to join the band. 

11. Corporal Edward A. Spooner, Company F — 
attached in March. 

12. Private Orrin F. Bacon, Company L 

13. Fifer Thomas Bowe, Company I. 

14. Bugler Henry B. Sargent, Company I. 

15. Corporal William A. Cowles, Company I. 

16. Bugler Cyrus S. Loud, Company K. 

The places of sick members were temporarily filled by 
others from the ranks. A queer compound of human 
flesh. Sergeant Charles A. Attwell, Company G, was made 
band-major March 2d, magnifying his position and duties 
to such an extent that his appointment was revoked July 
1 8th. Parks, the leader, was another queer fish. He 
worked hard in his own way, ably seconded by Tom Bowe, 
to improve the band. The talent could not be called first- 
class, while his own ability to instruct members was 
limited. He should be congratulated for such a tolerable 



25 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

degree of proficiency as was attained. Notwithstanding 
the band did not have a good selection of band music for 
a long time, it was a source of pleasure while in service. 
Old Parks, as he was called, was a great tobacco chewer, 
with a cud in his mouth at all hours. One afternoon he 
forgot to remove this article from his mouth while on 
regimental dress parade in New Orleans, and blew the 
same into his instrument when the band commenced to 
sound off down the line. He played, or tried to play 
away, without success, and set the boys laughing by his 
look of wonder, and attempts to remedy the evil. Not 
until this parade was over, amid bantering by his com- 
rades, did he discover what was the source of trouble. 

Long since has it been demonstrated that regimental 
bands are not desirable during active service. The atten- 
tion, the accommodations and privileges they require, are 
not commensurate with the service they render. Field 
music, where there is in addition a band, is sure to be 
neglected. Out of fourteen to twenty drums in the Forty- 
Second Regiment that should always have been in good 
working order, from two to five only were usually found fit 
for use, while the band was kept supplied with everything 
it required. The long roll has been beaten by one drum 
because all other drums were without drum-heads. Often 
the same drummer has had to first beat drummers call at 
guard quarters, then beat the stated signals in front of 
the camp. 

Drum-Major Neuert must have been very much dis- 
gusted with his position and duties while at Bayou Gentilly 
Camp in Louisiana, to have devoted so much of his spare 
time in teaching some of the young darkies who hung 
around the camp how to drum. These youngsters learned 
very rapidly how to beat a drum, using a jDiece of board 
to practise upon. An excellent drum corps of from twelve 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. - 29 

to fifteen drummers could easily have been formed from 
these camp followers, who, in a short time, would be almost 
as proficient as the regular drummers. 

At noon, on the second day of December, orders were 
received from General Banks directing the regiment to 
proceed at once to Brooklyn and embark upon transports, 
that were to be in readiness. Camp was struck at once, 
baggage packed and sent forward, cooked rations for 
twenty-four hours issued, or supposed to have been, for 
what was received from the post-kitchen was not reliable, 
and by three o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was 
en route. Just before leaving the camp-ground to take the 
road the Twenty-Eighth Connecticut Infantry Regiment 
passed by, on the way also to take transports. From the 
music given by the Twenty-Eighth regimental musicians, 
that could be distinctly heard for some minutes as the regi- 
ment came along the road hid by the woods, it was supposed 
they had a very fine band. Great was the surprise to those 
who were near enough the road to see when the head of the 
column came in sight, that the music was rendered by 
drummers, fifers and buglers only. With those who were 
interested in such matters it was the opinion, that the 
music rendered by these field musicians equalled, and in 
some selections of pieces played surpassed, anything the 
band of the Forty-Second ever did. 

Passing through Brooklyn, a similar demonstration 
greeted the regiment as when passing through Williams- 
burg. It was a fine evening, about dark, as the men 
marched upon the sidewalks (the streets were quite muddy) 
along some of the most pleasant thoroughfares of Brooklyn. 
Houses appeared to be in a blaze of light, the people 
crowded at windows, on door-steps and sidewalks, full of 
enthusiasm. Many requests were made by young ladies 
to be favored with a letter after taking the field ; many 



30 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

little necessaries were given to the men ; neatly folded 
within the packages were found billet-doux^ with the name 
and address of the writer, saying the donor expected to 
hear again from the recipient. Some of these notes fell 
into rather queer hands. So far as could be ascertained, 
no undue advantage was ever taken by the men of the 
Forty-Second from this epidemic of nonsense. 

On arrival at the South Ferry, foot of Atlantic Avenue, 
at seven o'clock, one transport was found at the designated 
pier, accommodating two companies, and she was not 
ready to embark men. Quarters for the night were 
generously tendered Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, for the 
regiment, by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Regiments, 
N. Y. National Guard, in their armory. The colonel, 
major, and quartermaster went to New York on business 
at General Banks' headquarters. Refreshments were 
furnished by the same regiments, and by citizens. Many 
of the men were entertained in private residences with 
supper, lodging and breakfast. To the postmaster, and 
Mayor of Brooklyn the regiment was especially indebted 
for favors extended. State Agent Colonel Tufts, in 
charge of the New England rooms in New York, suppos- 
ing the Forty-Second would embark at foot of Canal Street 
in that city, had provided a full supply of hot coffee, 
sandwiches, crackers and cheese, at that point. On learn- 
ing this fact the sergeant-major was dispatched to have 
the food brought over to Brooklyn, which was done 
late in the evening, arriving after the men were all fed. 
The supply thus obtained was dealt out in the morning to 
those who needed it.* 

* After sentinels were posted, to prevent men from straggling away from quarters, 
many ludicroys scenes occurred in attempts made to get out. The most ingenious 
contrivances were adopted; some men even risked their lives in these attempts to 
evade the guard, by windows, and from the armory roof. They tried to crawl through 
ventilators, and to tunnel into the street from the cellar. Nearly all these devices 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 3 I 

The greater part of the regiment behaved finely on this 
occasion. There was some straggling and some deser- 
tions. The worst case of neglect of duty that occurred 
was Color-Sergeants Vialle, Company G, and Humphrey, 
Company D, who had in their charge the State and 
United States colors. Instead of leaving them in the 
armory where the regiment was quartered, they were left 
in a low groggery on Atlantic Avenue, and found by the 
sergeant-major, by the merest accident, late in the evening, 
taken to the armory, and placed in charge of the color 
company. It was the intention of Colonel Burrell to have 
had an inquiry into this case of neglect, when circum- 
stances would permit. The separation of the companies 
and his being retained a prisoner of war for a long time 
alone prevented. 

Early on the morning of December third the embarka- 
tion commenced, transports having arrived. Owing to the 
large number of stragglers during the day it was dark 
before all were got aboard, and the vessels hauled into 
the river.* It was now evident that the three steamers 
upon which the regiment was embarked were not suffi- 
cient for the purpose. Upon the Charles Osgood, Shetuckef, 
and Saxon, at least one hundred men upon each vessel were 

failed, and by midnight all were fast asleep. Private Gusebio, Company C, was 
caught by a police officer, as he emerged from a coal-hole in the sidewalk, and beaten 
with a club until the guard took charge of him. These policemen on duty did not 
exercise any judgment whatever. They were finally taken away from the neighbor- 
hood to prevent a collision with the men, who were enraged at their bullying 
behavior. 

*Among these stragglers was Private Wilson Curtis, an alias, ol Company C, a pro- 
fessional bounty jumper, who had deserted from Readville Camp, a tough customer 
everj' way. He was spotted in New York by Lieutenant White, over there for the pur- 
pose of picking up stray men from his company, as he was on his way to board the 
Shetucket. Lieutenant White accosted him, and expected to have a fight before he 
could get him on board, but Curtis, who at first denied his identity, soon deemed it best 
to rejoin his company, as White covered him with his pistol besides using an argument 
on him, the substance of which was, that his life was not worth a cent if he was handed 
over to the military authorities. Curtis served faithfully with his company to the end. 



32 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

obliged to sleep on deck. Proper representations were 
made to General Banks the next day, who placed a fourth 
transport, the Qiwicy, at the colonel's disposal, when 
three companies were transferred to that vessel. 

Perhaps those men who on the night of the third of 
December were so loud in their denunciations of the 
colonel and his staff, laying all the blame for the hardships 
then suffered on those who strove in every way, and used 
every means within their power, to benefit their condition ; 
perhaps those men, when time had given them a chance to 
reflect and compare their whole experience with what it was 
that night, would acknowledge that they were wrong in their 
snap judgment. If they could have seen the work done 
that night, and heard the opinions of their officers, they 
would then have known that the colonel and staff had 
their welfare and good condition at heart. 

Shame on all men who will endeavor to foment a 
mutiny on the strength of fancied wrong, or incompetency 
of those in command, on such occasions as the one in 
point presented. There were men on board the trans- 
ports that night who should hang their heads in shame. 

The regiment was finally distributed as follows : 

On the Saxon — Colonel Burrell, Adjutant Davis, Quarter- 
master Burrell, Surgeon Cummings, Chaplain Sanger, 
Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster, ^nd Companies D, G and 
I. On the Quincy — Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, Sergeant- 
Major Bosson, Commissary-Sergeant Friend S. Courtney, 
who had been promoted from a private in Company D, 
vice Hutchinson, discharged at East New York on account 
of sickness, Drum-Major Neuert, Assistant- Surgeon 
Hitchcock, the band, and Companies A, B and F, with 
fifty men of Company C, Twenty-Eighth Connecticut 
Volunteers. Upon the Charles Osgood — Companies E and 
K, and Hospital-Steward Wood. Upon the Shetucket — 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. ^^ 

Major Stiles, Ward-Master Lewis, of Company D, Ord- 
nance-Sergeant Wentworth, Company G, and Companies 
C and H. A few officers and men were detached for 
special duty on transports Qiiinnebaiig and Eastern Queen. 

The regiment departed South in these transports, leav- 
ing behind the enlisted men named in the following table, 
who straggled from their colors or deserted them while in 
camp at Readville and East New York, and while em- 
barking for the South : a mere handful ever returned. 

There may have been some excuse for the desertion of a 
few of the younger men. Often a young man, after enlisting, 
has had such a pressure put upon him by family relations 
as to cause his desertion. In other cases cowardice was 
the true reason. While in a camp of instruction, and in 
no danger, all is well ; when marching orders are received 
and preparations made to reach the seat of war, then 
weak-hearted young or old men are apt to desert. The 
greater portion of deserters from the Forty-Second Regi- 
ment were professional bounty jumpers under assumed 
names. 



34 



HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 





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38 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER III. 

On Board Transports — The Saxon — Quincy — Charles 
Osgood — Shetucket — Quinnebaug. 

HEADQUARTERS" transport Saxon, so called 
because the colonel with a majority of his staff 
were on board, w^as commanded by Captain Lavender, 
and remained in the harbor until the morning of Friday, 
December 5th, the men subsisting on crackers and cold 
water. At eight o'clock she proceeded to sea, the boys 
giving a round of cheers to a lady upon the ramparts of 
Fort Columbus, who waved a United States flag as they 
passed. All arrangements were promptly made for the 
voyage : cooks detailed to cook rations, and men assigned 
to bunks below deck. 

Rough weather experienced the first night out soon 
became a gale, which lasted for two days, playing the 
dense with company cooks, and prevented any use of the 
galley situated between decks. Those who could eat at 
all had to subsist on hard bread and raw, salt pork. 
Nearly all of the men and all of the officers were very 
sea-sick. The galley fire was started several times, but 
rolling of the steamer would cause fat in the pans to run 
over upon the galley stove, and blazing up quick would 
set fire to the deck. Quick work with buckets of water 
would put the fire out and prevent any serious damage. 

The gale moderated during the night of December 7th. 
On Monday, December 8th, after passing Cape Hatteras 
during Sunday night, the sea became smooth, when men 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 39 

began to show themselves on deck. Somewhat hungry, 
and not liking the regular allotted fare, on Monday night 
a few men broke open the ice-chest and stole some fresh 
beef, cooking it at the galley. Next morning the culprits 
were picked out. Corporal Sanford Wood, Company I, 
was broke, had his chevrons stripped from his uniform, 
and was put in irons by order of the colonel, as he was 
ringleader in the affair. Privates J. Colson, Company I, 
Frank McConlow and Fitzallen Gourley, both of Com- 
pany D, detailed cooks at the time, were also put in irons 
for not revealing the thieves names. 

The Saxon proved to be the safest and fastest boat of 
the four vessels. She made a fine run to Key West 
where anchor was cast at six o'clock December nth, 
without anything of an exciting nature to enliven the trip 
except striking a school of finback whales about ten o'clock 
on the morning of the tenth. The orders to transport-cap- 
tains were, to sail forty-eight hours out to sea and then 
open their sealed orders, which were to rendezvous at Ship 
Island, Gulf of Mexico, with permission, in case of dis- 
tress, want of coal, water or provisions, to stop at Port 
Royal, Tortugas or Key West. Taking in a supply of 
fresh water and coal the steamer left Key West at six 
o'clock on the morning of December 12th, bound for 
Ship Island direct; but early on the morning of December 
15th, which was very dark, the mate in charge of the deck 
lost his course, and at full speed almost ran by the 
blockading fleet off Mobile Bay. The gunboat jR. R. 
Cuyler hailed them at two a.m., and was answered, when a 
blank shot followed by a cannon-ball from the gunboat 
Montgomery caused the mate to slow up and heave to. 
Not provided with a steam whistle there was nothing to do 
but to wait for something to develop, and soon the Saxon 
was boarded by naval officers, who gave the unwelcome 



40 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

intelligence that the transport was off her course, heading 
direct for Mobile, and was then past the inner line of 
picket boats, about one and a half miles from Mobile Bar. 

The Saxon then proceeded on the correct course for Ship 
Island, arriving there at nine o'clock a. m. About twenty- 
five tons of coal was taken aboard from coal vessel 
General Berry, that had lain at Ship Island for four 
months without a bushel of coal being removed until the 
Saxon took her small supply. After receiving orders and 
coaling, at five o'clock in the afternoon a start was made 
for New Orleans, encountering a severe northerly gale 
during the night, which caused the vessel to roll worse 
than at any time previous on the voyage. At seven 
o'clock, December i6th, the bar at South- West Pass of the 
Mississippi River was in sight, and at nine o'clock she was 
on her way up river, passing Forts Jackson and St. Philip 
at noon, tieing up at the left bank at nine o'clock for the 
night ; two sentinels were placed upon the river bank as a 
protection from any possible guerilla attack. 

Early on the morning of December 17th, say about 
three o'clock, the vessel proceeded to New Orleans, arriv- 
ing at seven o'clock, after a trip of twelve days from 
Sandy Hook, New York harbor. At four o'clock in the 
afternoon the Saxon steamed up river to Carrollton, 
arriving at seven o'clock, and anchored for the night, the 
men landing to go into camp late in the afternoon of next 
day, eighteenth. 

The Quificy was the first transport to get away, passing 
Sandy Hook at night December 4th, in face of a threaten- 
ing gale that lasted about three days. While passing Cape 
Hatteras the gale became so severe that the vessel was in 
great danger of not being able to weather it, as Captain 
George W. Clapp, an old and experienced navigator, after- 
ward acknowledged. Had she foundered, few, if any, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 4I 

could have survived to tell the tale. Except the crew and 
Captain Cogswell, all hands were in that state of sea-sick- 
ness they did not care whether they lived or died. The 
Quincy was an old freight propeller with two light masts, 
and one small upright boiler to work her machinery, 
previously in the merchant marine on one of the western 
lakes. She was lost December 12th, 1863, while making 
the voyage from New York to New Orleans, having sprung 
a leak during a violent gale, going down in sight of 
Hatteras Light. Out of twenty-five persons aboard nine 
were saved. Captain Clapp was lost. 

On the evening of December 8th a leak in the boiler 
was discovered. The fire was put out to admit of repairs 
being made ; the steamer drifting through the night. 
Fortunately the weather was all that could be desired, 
and no bad results from the accident were to be feared. 
Steam was got up on the morning of the ninth, but the 
same evening another and worse leak in the boiler was 
discovered. At a council of officers convened it was 
decided to instruct the captain to put into Port Royal for 
repairs. The weather continued magnificent, with a 
smooth sea. Port Royal was reached at noon on the 
eleventh under circumstances which did not admit of a 
doubt that had the steamer been delayed twelve hours 
longer her engine could not have been used at all. A 
Board of Survey, granted by Brigadier-General Brannan, 
U. S. A., commanding the District, and Commodore 
Dupont, pronounced the vessel sea-worthy, while the boiler 
and engine were altogether too small for ocean service, 
besides being very much out of order. 

The troops were landed and quartered at Hilton Head 
while repairs were made. Lieutenant Powers was sea-sick 
from the start, refusing nourishment part of the time, 
and not able to retain any on his stomach when he 



42 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

attempted to take it ; wrapped in his blanket he lay a 
picture of helplessness, losing strength day by day until it 
became a question whether he would survive to reach 
Ship Island. The landings at Hilton Head and Tortugas 
enabled him to recuperate sufficient strength to stand the 
strain while upon the water, for when going to sea after 
each landing he was fiat on his back again the moment 
the long ocean swell was reached. While the gale lasted 
for the first days out from New York, sick as they were 
between decks, in an atmosphere almost stifling from com- 
bined effects of stench from the cooking-range and stench 
of another character, the men did not miss the funny 
scenes that constantly occurred, causing laughter from 
men too sick to raise their heads. One of these scenes was 
when the vessel gave a lurch, that came near putting her 
upon her beam ends and threw the men below promis- 
cuously out of their berths, when one of them scrambled 
to the other side, clung to a bunk and shouted, " for God's 
sake, boys, all on this side and right her ! " 

Buckets of water were kept in readiness for use in case 
of fire, because in a heavy sea fat in stew-pans on the 
galley would be thrown out and flash up in a blaze, 
causing danger to constantly exist of a fire breaking out 
among inflammable material. This was so in all transports 
conveying the Forty-Second, notwithstanding every pre- 
caution was taken to guard against such a danger when 
cooking ranges were placed on board. 

Surgeon Hitchcock had a few severe cases of fever 
under his care, attending to them faithfully, with a loss of 
one man by death. To his care and attention many men 
owe a debt of gratitude, and for assistance he rendered in 
placing them on their sea-legs ; dealing out nourishment 
suited to the debilitated condition they were in until 
sufficient strength and appetite was gained to go on with 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 43 

the army ration. When fairly over their sea-sick attack 
appetites of men became voracious. 

On shore at Hilton Head the men were allowed to roam 
at will, an opportunity they exercised to the utmost, — 
visiting other troops in camp ; taking daily baths at the 
sand beach, where they also washed their under-clothing ; 
feasted on fresh bread from the post-bakery, equal to any 
furnished by the best of hotels in Boston ; stole apples at 
night from under the noses of a guard posted upon the 
wharf where the barrels lay ; sight-seeing upon the island 
like school-boys on a vacation. The quarters were in 
some empty barracks near a sluggish bayou, upon whose 
bank was a small graveyard, covered with ashes, with a 
neglected appearance in general, where were interred the 
remains of a few sailors who lost their lives at the capture 
of Forts Beauregard and Walker by the Federal Navy in 
November, 1861. 

Everything wore a quaint look, not only here but at 
every stopping place en route to New Orleans, exercising 
a peculiar charm over men from the North who had never 
visited the South, experienced by all travellers to parts of 
this world remote from their own residences, regardless of 
any facts bearing on the climatic influences on unac- 
climated beings. Until the stern reality of war was 
forced upon them, it seemed to each and every man as 
though he was travelling for pleasure at the Government 
expense. The first agreeable impressions of localities 
visited on the voyage from New York to New Orleans 
cannot be eradicated from minds of men belonging to the 
Forty-Second Regiment. 

After repairs were finished the men reembarked Decem- 
ber 1 6th, proceeding at once to sea, and made a fine run 
to Tortugas, arriving at Fort Jefferson on the twentieth, at 
nine o'clock a. m., to take in coal. While coasting in 



44 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

sight of Florida Keys the steamer MemeJion Sa?iford, that 
formerly ran between Boston and Bangor, was seen upon 
the reefs with wreckers around her. The Stmford had 
the One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New York Infantry Regi- 
ment on board ; every man was saved and taken to Key 
West, December nth, with nothing but what they carried in 
their hands. The baggage and stores were afterwards 
obtained, but the steanser could not be saved. 

In Fort Jefferson was a garrison of four companies, 
Ninetieth New York Infantry, weak in numbers from heavy 
losses by yellow fever during the summer months. There 
was a large number of military and civilian prisoners kept 
at work upon the fort, not then in a finished state. Occu- 
pying a part of the parade within the walls were several 
three-story brick dwelling houses with gardens attached, 
and trees of large growth under whose sheltering branches 
several head of cattle, belonging to the Commissary 
Department, would collect to escape the hot sun at mid-day. 

As another instance of danger that existed during the 
transportation of Banks' expeditionary corps to New 
Orleans, while the Quincy was at Tortugas an old rat-trap 
steamer came into port in a leaky condition with New York 
troops on board. The pumps were kept constantly at work 
since leaving New York, so the men stated. How the unsea- 
worthy transports managed to carry their human freights 
without loss of life from dangers of the sea is one of those 
curious mysteries of God's providence. 

After coaling and starting again seaward a collision 
occurred in the channel with a Government schooner, 
carrying away the after part of the steamer's deck cabin, 
which caused a detention of several days to repair damages. 
At dusk, on the twenty-second, the Quincy put to sea, 
arriving at Ship Island on the twenty-fifth, at nine o'clock 
p. M. Early on the morning of the twenty-fifth Private 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 45 

W. H. Young, Company C, Twenty-Eighth Connecticut 
Volunteers, died of fever, and was committed to the deep 
at eleven a. m. with appropriate services. Before the 
death of Young was announced, scattered on deck and 
below, were knots of men engaged in the pastime of cards. 
Lounging around, fishing and card playing were what the 
men did to kill time since leaving Hilton Head; a book of 
any sort in their hands was not to be noticed. On the 
announcement — presto — a sudden change; cards were 
put away; nearly every man had his Bible, and was 
intently engaged in its contents for the balance of the day. 
.A death at sea with solemn funeral rites was not without 
effect. 

Receiving his orders, Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman had 
the Qui?icy sail for New Orleans on the twenty-sixth, 
arriving late at night on the twenty-ninth, after a passage 
of twenty-five days from Sandy Hook. The South-West 
Pass was reached at nightfall ; a thick curtain of mist 
preventing an entrance then. In company with several 
other transports the Quificy lay outside the bar until 
morning; a continual noise from fog-whistles causing one 
to think he was in New York harbor. In the morning, as 
the heavy fog lifted, a beautiful mirage was seen in the 
sky, showing a brig ashore on a mud bank of the Delta. 
A perfect representation of what was soon seen to be 
actually the case. 

The Qui7icy disembarked her troops at Carrollton, who 
went into camp at Camp Mansfield. 

The Charles Osgood was an unfortunate vessel. An old 
propeller used on Long Island Sound, she was in every 
respect consort of the Shetucket; each fitted up in the 
same manner to convey troops, i.e.^ with a false deck to 
cover bunks and cooking apparatus. In a serious blow, 
with heavy sea running, this deck was liable to be swept 



4.6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

away at any moment. The steamer anchored in the river 
after all hands were on board, proceeding to Sandy Hook 
on the fifth ; there remained until she put to sea at half 
past five o'clock a.m. December 6th. Captain Geer never 
was beyond Fortress Munroe, and knew little about ocean 
navigation. He put to sea with one small compass, no 
charts, no chronometer, no life preservers on board, and 
with two small boats. With clear, cold weather, a high 
wind and rough sea, the Osgood ran down the coast and 
into Cape May harbor during the night of the seventh, for 
refuge. While in Delaware Bay a severe blow split sails 
and caused a slight displacement of the boiler, causing the 
captain to run into Delaware River and anchor off Dela- 
ware City at six o'clock, eighth, then to Philadelphia next 
day for repairs. She remained at Philadelphia for five days, 
to obtain new sails, new boat oars, life preservers, charts, 
and repairs on the boiler. The captain secured the 
services of an old and experienced navigator. Captain 
Sears. 

As the men were afraid to continue the voyage on the 
steamer they were not allowed to go ashore, for fear none 
would return when all was ready to start. They grumbled 
considerably, and when the vessel ran aground on League 
Island, about half past seven a.m. on the fourteenth, some 
men improved the opportunity to run ashore upon the ice. 
They went to Philadelphia, got drunk, but all came back 
before she got afloat at the next full tide except Private 
Chauncey Converse, Company K. Private Converse did 
not rejoin his regiment until April nth, 1863. He 
surrendered himself to United States officers, taking the 
benefit of general orders No. 58, War Department, series 
of 1863, granting pardon to all deserters who did so. 
Regarding this case of apparent desertion Adjutant-Gen- 
eral Schouler wrote Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, under 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



47 



date of February 21st, that Converse reported he was left 
sick at Philadelphia, and said he had tried and wished to 
rejoin his regiment. 

At half past eight o'clock a.m. on the sixteenth this 
transport got a fair start, after remaining over night 
inside the breakwater at Cape Henlopen, proceeding down 
the coast in sight of land during the day and running out 
to sea at night until Key West was reached at two o'clock 
on the afternoon of the twenty-third. The vessel struck 
on Fernandina Shoals, on the twentieth, about four o'clock 
in the morning; fortunately no damage was done, although 
boats were got ready to cast off in case of necessity. 
Leaving Key West at nine o'clock a.m. on the twenty-sixth, 
bound direct for Ship Island for orders, the transport 
arrived there at seven o'clock p.m., December 29th, pro- 
ceeding to New Orleans early next morning (four o'clock), 
two hours later running aground and remaining for a few 
minutes, off Chandeleur Light ; made Pass L'Outre, mouth 
of the Mississippi, at four o'clock in the afternoon, arriv- 
ing at New Orleans at two o'clock a.m., January ist. 

Ordered forthwith to Galveston, the transport left New 
Orleans at four o'clock in the morning, January 2d, and 
anchored at South-West Pass for the night, about five 
o'clock in the afternoon. On the third, at six o'clock a.m., 
the voyage was continued, but after a five hours run gun- 
boat Clifto7i hailed the Charles Osgood and ordered her 
back to New Orleans, because Galveston was lost. She 
again reached that city at three o'clock p.m. on the fourth. 

Companies E and K were disembarked at Carrollton on 
the afternoon of January 5th, and reported to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stedman, in command of Companies A, B and F, 
in camp at Camp Mansfield. Five companies of the 
regiment were now united after a month's separation by 
the sea. Greetings were cordial and heartfelt. The 



48 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Charles Osgood was twenty-six days making the voyage 
from Sandy Hook to New Orleans, although the men had 
to live on board for thirty-three days. 

The Shetucket was another unfortunate transport, with a 
tedious passage. She went to sea on the morning of 
December 6th. The men had embarked during the day 
of December 3d, proceeding down the bay to Sandy Hook 
on the morning of the fifth, when Captain Philo B. 
Huntley, in command of the steamer, was obliged to seek 
shelter until a snow-storm, then raging, had somewhat 
abated. 

The officers on board were : Major Stiles in command ; 
Captain Leonard, Lieutenants White and Sanderson, of 
Company C ; Lieutenants Phillips and Gould, of Company 
H ; and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, detailed to act 
as commissary. Captain Bailey, Company H, had been 
granted a two hours furlough on shore for the express 
purpose of obtaining oil to counteract the effect of salt 
water upon the muskets, and taken with him acting Com- 
missary-Sergeant Wentworth, Company G. They failed 
to report on board at the limitation of time, but took 
passage for New Orleans on the North Star, conveying 
the Forty-First Massachusetts Infantry, General Banks 
and staff. The North Star left New York December 4th, 
before the Shetucket left her anchorage in the river. 
Captain Bailey did not assume command of his company 
until January 12th. He and Wentworth arrived in New 
Orleans December 15th. Wentworth was ordered to 
join his company on the Saxon. No hospital accommoda- 
tions was upon the transport, and no medicines, except 
what meagre supplies were obtained by Major Stiles at 
Fortress Munroe and Hilton Head. Private Thomas M. 
Lewis, Company D, enlisted from Roxbury, a man forty- 
five years old, and a friend of Surgeon Cummings, was 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 49 

detailed to act as surgeon. He was familiarly known as 
" old salts," a nickname given by the men, suggested by a 
rule he invariably followed of prescribing a dose of salts 
to about every man who complained of sickness. 

The Shetucket was an old two-masted propeller freight 
boat, plying between New York and New London. A 
false deck-house of unsound lumber had been built upon 
her main deck, covering the whole vessel from bow to 
stern ; in this deck-house bunks were built to accom- 
modate near two hundred men, and cooking apparatus 
placed. In a rough sea every wave that struck her sides 
would send salt water into the bunks, so much so that 
when the water was rough very few men would occupy 
them ; those that did arranged rubber blankets for what 
protection they would afford. All of the accommodations 
were extremely poor. Sailing orders were the same as on 
other transports ; no one on board knew their destination 
until after leaving Key West, except Major Stiles, Captain 
Huntley, and Captain Leonard. This commendable 
secrecy was observed upon all four of the transports 
that conveyed the Forty-Second. 

Slow progress was made by this vessel when at sea. 
On the third night, December 8th, Major Stiles retired 
early, worn out with loss of sleep, leaving the command 
with Captain Leonard, and Lieutenant White on duty as 
officer of the guard. About eight o'clock Lieutenant Gould, 
conversing with Lieutenant White, remarked that if the 
captain kept on in the direction he was going the vessel 
would be ashore, as he knew the course steered was wrong 
from his experience and knowledge, obtained while serving 
upon a Baltimore steamer. White paid no special atten- 
tion to what Gould said, and it does not appear that the 
attention of Major Stiles was called to the matter. Lieu- 
tenants White and Phillips were engaged in a game of 



50 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

cards in the cabin about nine o'clock when a sudden 
shock was felt, bringing them to their feet in an instant. 
Another shock followed immediately, and on the deck 
they went, when another was felt, each one shaking the 
vessel from bow to stern. The sky was clear, the sea 
tolerably smooth, and the shore could be seen distinctly 
about one-half a mile away. There were two boats (one large 
and one small) upon the Shetucket; the large boat was 
not sea-worthy, while the small boat was capable of carry- 
ing three men. The old sailors (there were many in 
Companies C and H) were sharp at work trying to 
launch them. Captain Leonard sought the major, who 
sprang from his berth on the grating sound awakening 
him, and was dressing, and said: "The men have 
mutinied, and are all on deck. The officers of the 
boat up in the rigging assailed by the men and dare 
not come down, and the boat is aground ; for God's sake, 
come on deck." 

There was the usual commotion and confusion incident 
to such occasions, and the major, half-dressed, was met by 
Lieutenant Phillips at the head of the companion-way, 
who handed him a rope saying: "Make yourself fast 
major, or you will be washed overboard." 

Lieutenant White drove men away from the boats, not 
until Sergeant Henry Mann kicked a hole in one of them, 
and remarked as he did so : "Only the officers can use 
it." They then went for the hatchway, broke it open, and 
commenced work on what little cargo there was aboard; 
for what reason it is difficult to understand, unless to obtain 
material to float upon in case it was necessary to take to 
the water as the only means of escape, or to lighten the 
vessel. This was soon stopped. Major Stiles ordered 
the men to their quarters below, answered by a chorus of 
voices shouting: "We will be d — d if we will." A 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 5 I 

persuader in shape of a couple of cocked revolvers, with 
a determination to shoot the first man who refused to 
obey his order, settled the business in a very short time, 
and they went below. 

Captain Huntley came down from aloft and informed 
the officers his vessel was on Hog Island Shoals. For 
half an hour all attempts to back off ended in failure, until 
a long, ocean swell lifted her bow, when she floated into 
deep water. An examination of the hold proved that the ship 
was making water slowly — not enough to be dangerous, 
as the pumps, when set to work, were found able to con- 
trol it. Her rudder was sprung, two flukes were gone 
from the propeller, and two of her keel planks had been 
smashed. The Shetucket proceeded on, and reached 
Fortress Munroe next day. 

One of the funny incidents of this adventure was 
Lieutenant Sanderson appearing on deck with a patent 
rubber pillow, for use in case of shipwreck, at that period 
sold extensively in New York City, so fixed about his body 
near the hips that if he should have been washed over- 
board it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep 
either head or feet above water. The lieutenant was 
obliged to hear many sharp jokes on this account the 
remainder of the trip. 

At Fortress Munroe the vessel was ordered to Norfolk 
for necessary repairs, arriving in the evening at six o'clock. 
In passing Craney Island on the way to Norfolk they 
came to a blockade of piles with bare room enough for a 
vessel to pass through, and a gunboat on guard. In 
answer to a hail from this gunboat a dare-devil in Com- 
pany H shouted in reply: ^'Go to h — 11!" an answer 
that aroused the anger of Mr. gunboat commander, who 
threatened to blow them to pieces. Apologies were of no 
avail; a demand was made for the man who made the 



52 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

insulting reply, but no one would point him out. The 
affair calmed down and the Shetucket went on her way. 

The men disembarked, quartered in the Seamen's Bethel 
on West Wide Water Street, and gave their officers consid- 
erable trouble by pranks they carried on while in the city. 
General Vialle at one time threatened to send a battery 
and fire into them ; they made so much disturbance 
ringing the church bell. During their stay Privates Luke 
Armstrong and Alexander B. Ralsea, Company H, were 
taken sick and placed in the general hospital ; neither 
men rejoined the regiment during its term of service. 
Private Ralsea was mustered out of service at Fortress 
Munroe, for disability, May 27th. 

Repairs finished, on the afternoon of December 21st 
the Shetucket proceeded to sea, making very slow time, 
and ran short of coal and water, causing Captain Huntley 
to bear up for Hilton Head. In the attempt to make that 
port he ran into the blockading squadron off Charleston, 
S. C, at three a.m. on the twenty-fifth, sailing a direct 
course for Fort Sumter, when hailed by war-vessel Fow- 
hattan^ whose crew were beat to quarters, with a command: 
"Stop, or I will sink you!" The naval officers were out 
of temper, and used strong language to Captain Huntley 
for his stupidity, intimating that he deserved sinking, and 
would have got it but for the troops on board. Anchor 
was dropped at Hilton Head in the afternoon at half-past 
five o'clock. 

The next day, twenty-sixth, an affair happened that 
threatened serious consequences to one of the participators. 
Coal schooner J. G. Babcock was alongside coaling the 
steamer. For some time the men had been chaffing the 
schooner's crew in a good-natured manner, and when a 
drummer-boy of Company H began to climb the rigging 
he was ordered down by the sailing-master, who was in an 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 53 

angry mood. This drummer paid no attention to the 
order until the master sprang into the rigging to force the 
boy back. He was coming down as the officer passed up, 
and was kicked by the latter a few times in the head. 
That was enough to make the men furious. Seizing lumps 
of coal they began to hurl the missiles into the rigging, 
uttering threats to kick him overboard if he came down, 
and frightened the officer to such an extent that he dare not 
do so, but kept on going up to the crosstrees with an inten- 
tion of coming down on the other side of the mast. 
Privates John Davis, Company H, Con. Dougherty, William 
Cook and Joseph Cole, Company C, and others, all rough 
fighters, jumped on board the schooner and were in the 
rigging on that side to get at him, when Lieutenant White, 
whose personal courage no one ever had occasion to doubt, 
sprang to the schooner's deck ordering them down. All 
of the company officers then got these men aboard the 
Sheiucket, and the Babcock's crew cut the ropes, letting 
her drift away to a safe distance. On the twenty-seventh 
another schooner finished coaling. 

As water was scarce at Hilton Head, the Shefucket \n2.s 
ordered to Beaufort to replenish water casks, doing so on 
Sunday, the twenty-eighth. With a few hours to spare 
while at Beaufort, Major Stiles decided to give the men 
leave of absence on shore until five o'clock p.m., for at 
that hour the tide would serve to proceed to sea. Thor- 
oughly disgusted with the Shetucket, the men held a mass 
meeting in a square of the town during the day and voted 
not to go on board the old boat again. A committee was 
appointed to notify Major Stiles of their decision ; this 
committee attending to that duty between two and three 
o'clock in the afternoon. No time was to be lost if the 
men were to be got aboard that day in season to sail. 
The quality and temper of the men was such, that any 



54 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

attempt to persuade them was useless and merely involved 
loss of valuable time. Major Stiles called upon the 
provost-marshal, informed him of the situation and asked 
his assistance, which he was willing to give if the major 
would assume all responsibility if trouble ensued. Of 
course this was done. 

With about one hundred cavalry-men and seventy-five 
infantry the provost-marshal, almost at the point of the 
bayonet and sabre, it might be said, drove the men slowly 
toward the wharf, and every man but one (a member of 
Company H) was got aboard at the appointed time. The 
missing man was asleep in a house and overlooked, but 
found next morning, brought down to Hilton Head and 
put aboard. On casting off and reaching the channel, the 
provost-guard was saluted with many forcible compliments, 
such as can only be given by men in a like situation. 

It is not surprising such an incipient mutiny should 
have occurred when all the circumstances of the case 
are considered : an old, unseaworthy boat ; indifferently 
officered, manned and equipped ; consuming days of valu- 
able time to make a comparatively short voyage ; liable to 
founder, if caught in a heavy gale ; not able to make over 
four knots an hour at her best speed. The regimental 
officers consider it creditable that the men bore their 
hardships patiently so long as they did. 

Sailing from Hilton Head on the twenty-ninth, the 
steamer arrived at Key West January 2d, 1863, for provi- 
sions. There was much amusement on board when the 
U. S. gunboat Sagamore hailed them in the afternoon of 
the day they went into Key West, and the officer in 
charge of her deck, when informed what day the vessel 
left New York, replied : " Where in h — 11 have you been 
all this time ? " 

Lieutenant Duncan, who was sea-sick whenever at sea. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



55 



had a penchant for collecting leaves and flowers wherever 
a landing was made, placing them between leaves of 
books to press, and thus preserve them. While at Key 
West some wags among the ofhcers, who were ashore 
strolling around, conceived the idea of carrying on board 
an appropriate sample of the product of the soil. A huge 
cactus plant was obtained, taken aboard, and presented to 
Lieutenant Duncan to press and preserve. He had to 
stand many a joke about that cactus for a long time. 

After obtaining a supply of repacked beef, that tasted 
well enough when cooked and cold, but during the process 
of cooking made such a stench the men could not remain 
below, the Shetucket^ on the fourth day of January, sailed 
for Ship Island, encountering a rough gale on the sixth, 
that made things lively on board, and blew them fifty 
miles from their course. Late in the afternoon on the 
seventh two steam vessels were seen, or rather, the smoke 
they made was sighted on the horizon. There was some 
commotion on board, and speculation was rife as to their 
identit)\ The Confederate war vessel Alabama was a 
nightmare that haunted the minds of all upon transports 
conveying troops to the Gulf Department. The following 
morning a vessel was in sight giving chase. Rapidly 
gaining upon the Shetucket, a blank shot, then two 
solid shots were fired, the last striking water about two 
hundred yards away from the transport, when she was 
hove to. The vessel in pursuit was the gunboat 
R. R. Cuyler^ who had sighted the afternoon before, the 
transport and another steamer, giving chase first to the 
Shetucket^ until finding her to be a slow sailer had gone 
in pursuit of the other vessel, overhauling her during the 
night, capturing a good prize in an English iron-built 
blockade runner, and then started for the transport again, 
confident she could be found at any time. 



56 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

This was on the morning of the eighth, and in the 
evening, at nine o'clock, they arrived at Ship Island. 
Receiving orders to proceed to New Orleans, a start was 
made at noon the next day, entering the Mississippi River 
by Pass L'Outre early on the morning of the tenth, arriv- 
ing at New Orleans in the afternoon of Sunday, January 
nth, with only three men sick after such a trip. 

The regiment was in camp at Carrollton, and Com- 
panies C and H proceeded next day to that place, 
disembarked, and joined Companies A, B, E, F and K, 
having been thirty-six days on the trip from Sandy Hook 
to New Orleans. 

The transport Qiimnebaug was in charge of Lieutenant 
Proctor, Company G. Corporal Hodsdon, Company D, 
was detailed to report to Colonel Beckwith, chief commis- 
sary, and by him assigned to the vessel. It was intended 
at one time to send some horses upon her, but the 
accommodations were such that none would have lived, 
and it was abandoned. This transport was like the 
Charles Osgood and Shetuckef, fitted up with bunks to 
accommodate troops. After some changes of mind in 
regard to this vessel, she was loaded with stores, sufficient 
for twenty-four thousand army rations. 

Lieutenant Proctor, while on the way to go aboard his 
steamer in the river, ready to proceed, was hailed on 
Broadway by Sergeants Nichols, Vialle and Atwell, who 
said they had been left, together with Private Greene, all 
of them members of Company G. Proctor told them to 
find Greene and go on board the Quinnebatig, which 
they did. 

One of the ridiculous things done in loading this vessel 
was to put in a large refrigerator built next to the engine 
boilers, against remonstrances of men who knew this 
would not do, packing it with ice and fresh beef. As was 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 57 

to be expected, heat from the boilers melted the ice fast, 
and by the time they went into Tortugas the beef was 
spoilt. The Quincy was there at the same time, but her 
troops could not, or would not, eat the meat which Lieu- 
tenant Proctor sent on board to the extent of several tons. 
The balance he threw overboad after leaving Tortugas. 

This vessel sailed December 6th, proceeding to Fortress 
Munroe for orders, as directed, remaining there two days ; 
also touched at Hilton Head for one day, Tortugas for 
one day and a half and Ship Island for one day, arriving 
at New Orleans December 29th, having been twenty-three 
days on the trip from Sandy Hook. 

When Captain Beckley, commanding vessel, heard the 
sailing orders read at sea, which directed them to Ship 
Island, he was mad, and said his boat was unseaworthy and 
in no condition to go over the Bahama Banks ; he was also 
without charts for a voyage beyond Charleston, S. C, and 
was obliged to send to Baltimore for them, from Fortress 
Munroe, where they were obtained with difficulty. The 
Qimmebaug^m^vX'j^ 1864, while conveying from Morehead 
City to Baltimore about two hundred and eighty discharged 
soldiers, was driven ashore when off Cape Lookout, the 
machinery refusing to work, and became a total wreck. 
Between eighty and ninety soldiers were lost. 

Other detailed men from the regiment for detached 
duty were : Corporal Alfred Thayer, Company I, Wagoners 
John Willy, Company B, Joseph B. Ford, Company A, 
Chauncey K. Bullock, Company D, Nelson Wright, Com- 
pany E, Porter Carter, Company K, in charge of horses 
upon the transport-ship Wizard Kmg. This ship sailed 
from New York December 8th, and arrived at New 
Orleans December 31st. Besides a large amount of 
stores, about one hundred and sixty horses were on board, 
belonging to field officers of various regiments in the 



58 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

expedition. Each regiment detailed men to care for its 
own horses. Twenty-five horses were lost on the trip, 
among them Surgeon Hitchcock's horse. 

The experience of other Massachusetts troops on the 
voyage to New Orleans was varied, as the following 
condensed statement will show: 

Fourth Regiment Infantry — Seven companies and a 
portion of another sailed from New York January 3d 
in the transport-ship Geo. Peabody ; arrived February 
7th, not landing until the thirteenth ; forty-seven days 
on board; balance of regiment arrived about the same 
time. 

Forty-Seventh Regiment Infantry — Entire regiment 
sailed from New York December 2 2d on steamer Missis- 
sippi; had a pleasant voyage of eight days to Ship Island ; 
arrived at New Orleans December 3Tst. 

Forty-Eighth Regiment Infantry — Embarked December 
29th on steamer Coftstellation, sailing from New York for 
Fortress Munroe January 4th ; after detention of seven 
days sailed for New Orleans, and arrived February ist. 

Forty-Ninth Regiment Infantry — Left New York Janu- 
ary 24th on the steamer Illifiois ; arrived at New Orleans 
February 7th. 

Fiftieth Regiment Infantry — Three companies were 
on steamer Jersey Blue, one company on steamer New 
Brunswick, five companies on steamer Niagara, one com- 
pany on ship Jenny Lind. The Jersey Blue sailed from 
New York about December nth, became unmanageable 
at sea and was obliged to put into Hilton Head in distress ; 
troops were landed and remained on shore about three 
weeks, then embarked on bark Guerrilla, and arrived at 
New Orleans January 20th. The New Brunswick sailed 
December ist; arrived at New Orleans December i6th. 
The Niagara sailed December 13th, sprang a leak first 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 59 

night out, machinery became disabled, and it was 
necessary to put in at Delaware Breakwater ; arrived 
at Philadelphia sixteenth, where the steamer was con- 
demned by a Board of Survey as unfit for transport 
service. Ship Je7i7iy Lind arrived at Philadelphia January 
I St, took the five companies on board, and on the 
ninth sailed for Fortress Munroe, arriving on the 
thirteenth. As the Jenny Lind was not capable of 
accommodating all the troops, three companies were 
transferred to ship Montebello — she sailed sixteenth; 
arrived at New Orleans January 27th. The Jenny Lind 
arrived at New Orleans February 9th. 

Fifty-Third Regiment Infantry — Embarked on steamer 
Contijiental January 17th, and after a stormy passage of 
twelve days reached New Orleans January 30th. 

Thirty - Eighth Regiment Infantry — Left Baltimore 
November loth on steamer Baltic; arrived at Fortress 
Munroe November 12th; left Fortress Munroe December 
4th ; after a smooth and pleasant passage arrived at Ship 
Island December 13th; went into camp on the island 
until the twenty-ninth ; embarked on steamer Northern 
Light, and arrived at New Orleans December 31st. 

Forty- First Regiment Infantry — Sailed from New 
York December 4th in steamer North Star, and after a 
remarkable pleasant passage arrived at New Orleans, via 
Ship Island, December 15th. 

Twelfth Light Battery — Sailed from Boston January 
3d in ship E. W. Farley; arrived at New Orleans 
February 3d, after a very rough passage. 

Thirteenth Light Battery — Sailed from Boston January 
20th in ship DeWitt Clifiio7t ; arrived at Fortress Munroe 
February nth, after a very stormy passage and loss of 
fifty-seven horses ; after a long, tedious voyage from 
Fortress Munroe arrived at New Orleans May loth: 



6o HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

becalmed off the Florida coast, steamer Geo. Peabody 
towed the ship to Key West; from Key West the 
steamer St. Maiy's towed the ship to within one day's 
sail of the Mississippi River. 

Fifteenth Light Battery — Sailed from Boston March 
9th in ship Zouave ; touched at Fortress Munroe, and 
arrived at New Orleans April 9th. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 6 1 



CHAPTER IV. ' 

GALVESTON. 

Off for Galveston — Landing — Occupation of the 
City — Action of January First — Loss of the 
"Harriet Lane" — Deserted by the Navy — Sur- 
render. 

COMPANIES D, G and I went into camp at Carrollton 
on the afternoon of December i8th, 1862. A tele- 
graphic order was received from New Orleans on the 
nineteenth, sent by General Banks, which read as 
follows: *' Colonel Burrell, with his three companies of 
the Forty-Second Massachusetts Volunteers, will proceed 
to Galveston forthwith." Supposing execution of this 
order was urgent, preparations to move were at once 
made. At three o'clock in the afternoon camp was 
struck and the companies ready to move ; but, as the 
transport Saxon, at New Orleans for repairs, did not 
arrive, tents were again pitched and occupied until the 
twenty-first. Next day, twentieth, written special orders 
from General Banks were handed to Colonel Burrell by 
General Sherman, commanding the post, and read : 
" Colonel Burrell, with the three companies of the Forty- 
Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, will proceed 
to Galveston, land and take post." 

Colonel Burrell decided to execute his orders promptly. 
On the twenty-first the Saxon was ready to embark his 
men. Camp was struck early in the morning. At eight 



62 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

0/clock men, baggage and equipage were all on board, 
.^nd the steamer proceeded down river until eight o'clock 
/in the evening, having anchored opposite New Orleans 
for about two hours, while the colonel, accompanied 
by Chaplain Sanger, went ashore for an interview with 
General Banks at his headquarters, to obtain definite 
instructions. The only officer to be found at headquarters 
was Colonel S. B. Holabird, chief-quartermaster of the 
Department, who said full instructions in writing had 
been prepared, but he could not find them ; during the 
conversation carefully looking over documents in the 
office. Colonel Holabird suggested to Colonel Burrell 
not to be in a hurry in proceeding to Galveston, and 
having heard the subjiect talked over in consultations that 
had taken place among other staff-officers and General 
Banks, advised him, on arrival at Galveston, to consult 
with Commodore Renshaw, commander of the fleet, in 
reference to his course of action ; that instructions would 
be forwarded very soon, as the balance of the regiment 
on arrival from New York would be promptly sent to him. 
The intention of General Banks, Holabird stated, was to 
send there an additional regiment of infantry, a regiment 
of cavalry, and a light artillery battery, as soon as it could 
possibly be done ; that General Banks' idea was, for the 
three companies to remain under protection of the navy 
guns until reenforcements arrived. Colonel Holabird 
cautioned Colonel Burrell, not to be drawn into any 
scrapes by Confederate General Magruder, who had lately 
assumed command of all forces in Texas. 

After lying alongside the river bank until half-past one 
o'clock next morning, the transport proceeded on her way. 
Passing out of the Mississippi River by the South West 
Pass into the Gulf of Mexico at eleven o'clock in the 
morning, the course was taken for Galveston. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 63 

The troops on board the Saxon consisted of : 

Colonel — Isaac S. Burrell. 

Adjutant — Charles A. Davis. 

Quartermaster — Charles B. Burrell. 

Surgeon — Ariel I. Cummings. 

Chaplain — George J. Sanger. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant — Henry C. Foster. 

A young volunteer in the engineer corps named W. S. 
Long, who reported on board at New Orleans. 

Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, Company E, who was 
sick when the regiment left New York, and embarked on 
the Saxon, instead of remaining with his company. 

Private Samuel R. Hersey, Company C, acting as 
clerk to the colonel. Frank Veazie, cook to officers' 
mess, not an enlisted man. Two colored boys, Charles 
L. Amos of Dedham, Mass., servant of Quartermaster 
Burrell, and Charles F. Revaleon of Boylston, Mass., 
servant of Surgeon Cummings. 

The following officers and men of Company D : 

1. Captain George Sherive. 

2. First Lieutenant Wm. H. Cowdin. 

3. Second Lieutenant Darius F. Eddy. 

4. First Sergeant Samuel A. Waterman. 

5. Second Sergeant Charles D. Frye. 

6. Third Sergeant Charles R. Todd. 

7. Fourth Sergeant Wm. E. Humphrey (color bearer). 

8. Fifth Sergeant John W. Davis. 

9. First Corporal Chas. C. Richards. 

10. Second Corporal Benjamin Noyes. 

11. Third Corporal Wm. H. Tileston. 

12. Fourth Corporal Chas. J. Oldham. 

13. Fifth Corporal Benjamin F. Bean. 

14. Sixth Corporal Lewis M. Calhoun. 

15. Corporal Henry W. Mcintosh. 

16. Drummer Lewis Eddy. 



64 



HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



17 


Private Albert S. Allen. 


48. 


18 


" 


William H. Brown. 


49. 


19 


" 


William H. Bullard. 


50- 


20 


« 


William H. Batson. 


5^- 


21 


(( 


Charles Brown. 


52. 


22 


(( 


Charles W. Bailey. 


53- 


23 


" 


John Barnes. 


54. 


24 


" 


Edward Boardman. 


55- 


25 


u 


William Burke. 


56. 


26 


<f 


Major Bacon. 


57- 


27 


" 


Michael Buckmaster. 


58. 


28 


" 


John Burns. 


59- 


29 


(( 


Charles H. Cushman. 


60. 


30 


(( 


George T. Clinton. 


61. 


31 


" 


Dennis Dailey. 


62. 


32 


" 


John Drury. 


63- 


33 


(( 


Peter Durnam. 


64. 


34 


(( 


Tobias Enslee. 


65. 


35 


<( 


George M. Fisk. 


66. 


36 


'* 


Henry Fisk. 


67. 


37 


« 


John Fay. 


68. 


38 


(( 


Fitzallen Gourley. 


69. 


39 


u 


Charles J. Grinnell. 


70. 


40 


<( 


Amos B Howard. 


71. 


41 


« 


Thomas C. Houghton 


72. 


42 


(( 


David Howe. 


73- 


43 


(( 


Wallace A. Josselyn. 


74. 


44 


t( 


Edwin F. Josselyn. 


75- 


45 


« 


Jacob Kopf. 


76. 


46 


« 


William B. Larrabee. 


77- 


47 


« 


Fred. Lamote. 


78. 




The followinof officers anc 


me 



Private Thomas Londergan. 

" Frank McConlow. 

" Px.andolph P. Mosely. 

" John V. Mcllroy. 

" James Moore. 

" Francis L. Morrill. 

" Angus G. Nicholson. 

" James O'Shaughnessy. 

" Benjamin Pratt. 

" George Powers. 

" Louis Preami. 

" Gustavus Raymond. 

" Cornelius Ryan. 

" Jerry S. Russell. 

" William Rigby. 

" Jeremiah Quinn. 

" Henry C. Sellea. 

" Joseph H. Stowell. 

" Sargent L. Stoddard. 

" Daniel J. Sullivan. 

" Laban Thaxter. 

" Josiah Thompson. 

" James Thomaston. 

" Daniel H. Vining. 

" Charles G. Weymouth. 

" Daniel L. Weymouth. 

George S. Walls. 

George H. Wight. 

" Jonathan G. Wight. 

Albert P. Wright. 

•' Nathaniel White. 



1. Captain Alfred N. Proctor. 

2. 2d Lieutenant Thaddeus H. Newcomb. 

3. Sergeant Levi W. Goodrich. 

4. " Philip P. JLickett. 

5. Corporal John W. ]>uttrick. 

6. " Seth E. Clapp. 

7. " John C. Bishop. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



65 



Corporal George W. Griggs. 

" Moses Lincoln, Jr. 

" Robert G.Thompson. 

" George G. Morrison. 

" David L. Wentworth, acting as ordnance-sergeant. 

Drummer Horace W. Chandler. 

" David A. Ireson. 

Wagoner Roland C. Judkins. 



9- 
10. 
II. 
12. 

13- 
14. 

15. 

Private Obed F. Allen. 49. 

" Joseph Brownlow. 50. 

" Charles A. Bailey. 51. 

" John Brown. 52. 

" William H. Bickers. 53. 

" Charles L. Barrett. 54. 

" Charles Barrett. 55. 

" Charles Boardman. 56. 

" John M. Barnard, Jr. 57. 

" William M. Bird. 58. 

" Gilbert F. Blaisdell. 59. 

" John H. Cary, 60. 

" Thomas O. Bryant. 61. 

" John Carvey. 62. 

John T. Cook. 63. 

" Lemuel S. Copeland. 64. 

" Frank Covell. 65. 

" Frederick Corson. 66. 

" Gilbert Crocker. 67. 

" Fred T. Clark. 6S. 

" William Carter. 69. 

'* George H. Davis. 70. 

" John E. Davis. 71. 

" James L. Davis. 72. 

" George R. Dary. "jt^, 

" Edmund B. Doubel. 74, 

" Daniel Dinnegan. 75. 

*' James G.Emerson. 76. 

" John Eaton. "jy. 

" John Eastman. 78. 

" Richard Ellis. 79. 

" Thomas Field. 80. 

" Benjamin Gould. 81. 



Private John W. Gordon. 
'* George S. Hyde. 

Albert A. Hayden. 
" John Harmon. 
" Henry T. Horn. 

Albert A. Holt. 
" Lucius Higgins. 
" Charles Hilger. 
" Alonzo D. Ireson. 

Eli P. Johnson. 
" Francis Knight. 

George W. Kibbey. 
" Arthur Kelley. . 
" Charles B. Lynda. 
" Amos W. Lynde. 
" William Logan. 
" Samuel Marshall. 
" Joseph Mullen. 
" James H. McAllister. 
" Francis L. Nott. 

Joseph W. D. Parker. 
" Charles Paine. 
" Daniel D. Penney. 

John F. Parrott. 
" Benjamin R. Pierce. 
" Diomede Roseline. 
" Martin W. Roberts. 
" Chas. W. H. Sanborn. 
" Albert I. Smart. 
" Thomas T. Sweetser. 
" Henry O. Studley. 
" William Stiles. 
" Charles H. Upham. 



66 


HISTORY OF THE 


FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 


82. 


Private Edwin A. Vinton. 


86. Private Abiel F. White. 


S3. 


" Levi Vincent. 


87. " Henry J. Wethern 


84. 


" James W. Vinal. 


88. " William B. York. 


85. 


" James Vance. 


89. " Josiah R. York. 



And the following officers and men of Company I : 

1. Captain Cyrus Savage. 

2. First Lieutenant Samuel F. White. 

3. Second Lieutenant Benjamin F. Bartlett. 

4. First Sergeant Wm. H. Hunt. 

5. Second Sergeant John F. Hevvins. 

6. Third Sergeant Chauncy B. Sawyer. 

7. Fourth Sergeant Edward Merrill, Jr. 

8. Fifth Sergeant Cornelius G. Kenney. 

9. First Corporal Frank M. Adams. 

10. Second Corporal Nathaniel H. Bird. 

11. Third Corporal Sanford H. Brigham. 

12. Fourth Corporal David F. Sloan. 

13. Fifth Corporal Daniel H. Walker. 

14. Drummer Albert Schneider. 



15. Private Moses Averill. 


35. 


Private Henry E. Farrington. 


16. 


Edward F. Bryant. 


36. 


James F. Floyd. 


17. 


Jonathan Baker. 


37- 


" George T. Fernald. 


18. 


Edward J. Baker. ' 


38. 


" Edward S. Gray. 


19. 


Edward K. Baker. 


39. 


" Thomas V. Gleason. 


20. ' 


John K. Clements. 


40. 


" Charles Gleason. 


21. * 


Samuel Crowell. 


41. 


William F. Gardner. 


22. * 


Jefferson W. Cheney. 


42. 


*' George Glover, Jr. 


23- 


Peter Cuddy. 


43- 


" Charles E. Hewins. 


24. 


Thomas P. Contillon. 


44- 


" John A. Hodgkins. 


25- 


' James G. Colson. 


45- 


" Frederick Huggins. 


26. 


' David Chapin. 


46. 


" Elijah Hunt. 


27. 


' Timothy Dolan. 


47. 


" Lewis A. Hunt. 


28. 


Thomas Dellanty. 


4S. 


" Alexander Hobbs. 


29. 


Charles H. Dodge. 


49. 


Thomas F. Igo. 


30. 


Wm. C. Elder. 


50- 


" Ambrose A. Knight. 


3»- 


' Horace W. Eaton. 


51. 


•' Charles Littlefield. 


3-- 


John Elliott. 


52. 


William B. Lambert. 


33- 


" George K. Farnum. 


53. 


" Frank B. Laury. 


34. 


" Willard S. Farrington. 54. 


" David W. Lannergan 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



67 



55- 


Private James IMulry. 


72 


Private Evelyn Ransom. 


56. 


(( 


Thomas Morris. 


73 


" Asa Robbins. 


57. 


u 


William Morgan. 


74 


Geo. W. Richardson. 


58. 


" 


Dennis Mahoney. 


75 


" Edwin Smith. 


59. 


" 


Nathaniel McCreary. 


76 


" Joseph Scaff. 


60. 


u 


Lawrence Mannix. 


77- 


" Charles J. Sumner, Jr. 


61. 


" 


James McGee. 


78. 


" George W. Sloan. 


62. 


<< 


Jos. W. McLaughlin. 


79 


" James E. Stanley. 


63- 


(( 


Thomas A. Noyes. 


80 


William Spargo. 


64. 


" 


Solomon Nordlinger. 


81 


" John Taylor. 


65. 


" 


Albert H. Plummer. 


82 


'' Jacob H. Taylor. 


66. 


(( 


Porter Plummer. 


^3- 


" Joseph A. Teeling. 


67. 


(< 


George L. Pitman. 


84. 


" Wm. H. H. Weeman 


68. 


« 


George B. Proctor, Jr 


85. 


George W. Wescott. 


69. 


" 


John B. Pratt. 


86. 


" Ozias Willis. 


70. 


« 


Charles H. Poole. 


S7- 


Joel F. Williams 


71. 


« 


Joseph T. Paget. 


88. 


" Sanford Woods. 



The total force amounting to 15 officers, 249 enlisted men, 
I white citizen, and 2 colored boys. 



The instructions Colonel Holabird could not find were 
handed to Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman as the steamer 
Che-Kiang was about to leave New Orleans for Galveston. 
They never reached Colonel Burrell. They were as fol- 
lows : — 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

"New Orleans, La., January 3d, 1863. 
'^ Lieut.-Col. Stedman, 42d Reg't Mass. Vols. : 

" Colonel^ — I am directed by the Commanding General 
to enclose you instructions, which he requests you to hand 
Colonel Isaac S. Burrell. 

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

^'W. L. G. GREEN, 

" Aid-de- Camp. " 



6s history of the forty-second regiment, 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

"New Orleans, La., January 3d, 1863. 
" Colonel : 

" Your regiment having been ordered to Galveston, you 
are hereby placed in command of that post. You will 
execute such orders as you may receive from these head- 
quarters. My instructions from the Department of War 
forbid me at present to make any extended military move- 
ments in Texas. The situation of the people of Galveston 
makes it expedient to send a small force there for the 
purpose of their protection, and also to afford such facil- 
ities as may be possible for recruiting soldiers for the 
military service of the United States. Every assistance 
in your power will be afforded for the complete attainment 
of these objects. 

" General Hamilton is appointed Military Governor of 
the State of Texas, and will be recognized by you in that 
capacity, but your orders you will receive from these head- 
quarters. 

" Until the port of Galveston is regularly opened by the 
Government of the United States, no trade can be carried 
on, and no attempt for that purpose will be recognized, or 
countenanced by you. 

" I rely fully upon your energy, vigilance and capacity, 
for the performance of the important duties intrusted to 
you. Do not fail to make frequent reports of all that 
transpires within your command, and of whatever impor- 
tant facts you may learn from the enemy in Texas, or from 
its people. 

" It is not probable that any successful movement can 
be made upon the main-land until our force shall be con- 
siderably strengthened; and you will take care not to 
involve yourself in such difficulty as to endanger the 
safety of your command. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 69 

" Other instructions will be sent to you from time to 
time, as occasion may require and opportunity offer. 
"N. P. BANKS, 

" Major- General commanding. 

"Colonel Isaac S. Burrell, 

"42d Regiment Mass. Vols." 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

" New Orleans, La., January 3d, 1863. 

'^ Colonel : 

" You will immediately cause to be constructed a tete- 
du-pont, to command the bridge which connects Galveston 
Island with the main-land. 

" I directed an engineer officer to go there some time 
since, and I suppose he is there. If so, he will give suit- 
able directions for the work. 

" Very respectfully yours, 
"N. P. BANKS, 

" Major- General commanding. 

" Colonel Isaac S. Burrell, 

"commanding U. S. Forces at Galveston." 

The trip to Galveston was devoid of interest. The 
weather was fine and the sea moderately smooth. Few 
were sea-sick. At half past eleven on the morning of the 
twenty-fourth land was sighted; at noon, the gunboat 
Tennessee fired a shot across the bow of the Saxon, and 
she hove too, off Galveston Bar, for about two hours, when 
a pilot was taken. The navy had been expecting troops 
to arrive for some days. Commander Law, of the Clifton, 
• when he ascertained what troops were on board the Saxon 
and their purpose, sent a boat to bring the colonel over 



70 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the bar, and on board his vessel, which then proceeded up 
/the channel a short distance. As the Saxon would not be 
/' able to get over the bar at once, an offer from Law, to 
take Burrell in his gig to see Commander Renshaw, was 
accepted. Upon reaching the flag-ship Westfield, Renshaw, 
who was entertaining Confederate officers in the cabin 
under a flag of truce, met the colonel at the gangway, 
extending a hearty welcome. He suggested the postpone- 
ment of a conference at that time, not wishing the Con- 
federate officers to see Colonel Burrell, and would meet 
him on board the Clifto?i with all commanding officers of 
gunboats then in the harbor, viz. : — 

Westfield — A ferry-boat ; eight guns ; Commander W. 
B. Renshaw. 

Clifton — A Staten Island ferry-boat; seven guns; Lieu- 
tenant-Commander R. L. Law. 

Harriet Lane — Formerly a United States revenue 
cutter ; eight guns ; Commander J. M. Wainwright. 

Owasco — Screw propeller; regular war vessel ; six guns; 
Lieutenant-Commander H. Wilson. 

Commander Renshaw, as agreed, met Colonel Burrell 
on board the Clifto7i. The situation was explained and 
discussed. Renshaw strongly urged landing the troops in 
the city, and was supported in this advice by all of his 
officers. Burrell suggested landing on Pelican Spit, an 
island near the harbor entrance, with plenty of space, and 
buildings that could be occupied until more troops arrived. 
Great stress was placed on the difficulty of obtaining water 
upon the spit, while abundance was to be had in the city. 
Renshaw scouted the idea of danger to so small a force in 
the city. A decision was finally made to land on Kuhn's 
Wharf, occupy for barracks the wooden storehouse upon it, 
and fully understood by all officers present, that the troops 
would be under protection of the navy guns. They were to be 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 7 I 

protected or removed. In case an attack was threatened, 
the Owasco was to take position on the right, the Clifton 
on the left of Kuhn's Wharf, and these vessels were accus- 
tomed to occupy those positions every night. Assurance 
was also given that the troops could be taken from the 
wharf in five minutes time if it became necessary to do so. 

Galveston City in 1861 was a port of entry and capital 
of Galveston County. It is situated near the east end of 
Galveston Island, with the best and least difficult harbor 
on the whole Texas coast. It was the commercial empo- 
rium of Texas, with the bulk of its commerce coastwise 
with New Orleans and New York. The former port con- 
nected with it by regular steamship lines. The city con- 
tained the court-house, a jail, and other county buildings, 
several churches, numerous warehouses, wholesale and 
retail stores, and hotels; and published several news- 
papers. The island in which the city stands, is about 
thirty-six miles long, with an average width of two miles. 
The soil is good, being a black mould, about a foot deep, 
resting on sand and shells, and it has several ponds of 
good water. Separated from the main-land by West Bay, 
it was connected by a wooden railroad bridge, two miles 
in length, used by the Galveston and Houston Railroad. 
No portion of the surface is more than twenty feet above 
the level of the Gulf of Mexico, and with the exception 
of several groves of live oak, the whole is open prairie. 
Before the war the land was said to have been in a state 
of excellent cultivation, and the city the residence of many 
wealthy farmers. Very few slaves were held on the island, 
and the population was about seven thousand. 

Federal naval forces had virtually been in possession 
of Galveston since October 8th, 1862, in full control of 
the harbor, but lacking adequate force to land and occupy 
permanently the city. Besides the four gunboats in the 



72 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

harbor when the detachment first arrived, the gunboat 
Sachem, an altered merchant screw propeller steamer, five 
guns, Acting Master Amos Johnson, came in December 
29th with her boilers out of repair, and, securing the ser- 
vices of two boiler makers from the city, anchored in the 
channel on the city front to have them patched up. The 
small Government schooner Corypheus, Acting Master A. 
T. Spear, with one gun, and manned by fifteen men, also 
came into port with the Sachem. 

The sailing barks Arthur, Cavallo, and E lias Pike, loaded 
with coal for the fleet ; the transport steamer Mary Board- 
man, loaded with hay and horses ; and the transport 
steamer Saxon, was all the shipping that was in Galveston 
Harbor, January ist, 1863. 

At two o'clock the Saxon passed over the bar, her keel 
striking bottom a few times, and at half-past four came to 
anchor in the harbor channel. 

The troops made a landing December 25th, at ten 
o'clock in the morning. The two-story storehouse was 
occupied on the upper floor for sleeping, the lower floor 
to store quartermaster and commissary stores, ammunition, 
and intrenching tools, which were removed from the Saxon 
that day and next. A partitioned room on the lower floor 
was fitted up by Surgeon Cummings for a hospital. The 
commissary supplies consisted of coffee, hard bread, beans, 
salt pork, and molasses, sufficient to last about thirty days 
for three hundred men. The intrenching tools were spades, 
picks and axes, for five hundred men. Three* months med- 
ical supplies and about twenty-five thousand rounds fixed 
ammunition for infantry was also landed. 

Kuhn's Wharf was the largest on the harbor front, the 
storehouse end large and roomy, connected with the land 
by a bridge-like wharf some four hundred feet long, about 
twenty feet wide, built on piling. The water was quite 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 73 

shallow at any tide almost to the end. Tides in Galveston 
harbor and bay ebb and flow very little; the depth of 
water is greatly influenced by heavy northerly winds, 
which blow the water over the bar out to sea. Heavy 
draft vessels at such times must keep to the narrow 
channel. 

A flag-pole was found which belonged on the storehouse, 
and being placed in position upon the cupola, the old gar- 
rison flag, used by the regiment at Readville, was run up 
about eleven o'clock and greeted with cheers. Sentries 
were at once posted in the city as far as Market Square, 
one of the principal places with all of the main streets 
leading into it. They were also posted on the streets to 
the right and left, communicating directly with the wharf. 
At night these posts were reenforced in such a manner as 
to constitute picket-posts. 

Immediately upon landing and taking post, Colonel 
Burrell adopted such measures to secure all the protection 
possible that in his judgment the situation demanded. 
From this time until the morning of January ist it was 
work, work, work. Fatigue and working parties were 
constantly employed. Guards and pickets were on duty 
day and night. Reconnoitring detachments were on duty 
by day and squads scouting at night. The Forty-Second 
Infantry, posted upon Kuhn's Wharf, were very active 
during their short stay, occupying the city so far as the 
small force and prudence would allow, and exercising 
proper surveillance. The men were barely allowed suffi- 
cient time to obtain needed sleep. 

Among the first things done was to barricade the inte- 
rior of the storehouse facing the city, by placing against 
that side, on each floor, barrels of whiting, plaster and 
hair, found on the premises. For a temporary shelter to 
men on picket at night, if forced to seek it, it was decided 



74 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

to build a breastwork upon the wharf by tearing up and 
utilizing the planks. Volunteer Engineer Long saw no 
use or necessity for this, not exercising any supervision 
over the work until operations had commenced and he 
saw that the colonel was determined about it. Com- 
mencing at a point some fifty feet from the shore end, the 
hard pine planks were removed to make a gap in the 
wharf for the space of about another fifty feet, and the 
first breastwork was erected on the edge of this gap the 
day of landing. Fortunately Quartermaster Burrell, in 
looking around the city in the morning, had found a keg 
of large-sized spikes and ordered them taken to the wharf 
where they might be found useful. They were very useful 
in building this work. 

An examination of the ammunition, ordered in a few 
days after landing when it was evident the enemy meant 
mischief, was not a welcome surprise. Company G was 
armed with Springfield rifles, and Companies D and I had 
Springfield smooth-bore muskets. The bulk of ammunition 
landed was found to be for rifles, with only a small supply 
of ball and buckshot cartridges for smooth-bores. There 
was also found to be a scarcity of caps. This is accounted 
for by the confused manner in which the regiment was 
embarked at Brooklyn on the different transports — a 
proper apportionment of the ammunition was not possible 
under the circumstances. • Sending Adjutant Davis to the 
fleet for any surplus caps they had to spare added very 
little to the supply, as they were short also. It was found 
that cartridges and caps sufficient to give each man eigh- 
teen rounds in his cartridge box was all the ammunition 
that could be made serviceable when a distribution was 
made to the men on the thirty-first. This was kept a 
secret from the command. The men were cautioned to 
husband their ammunition until it could be used to effect 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 75 

at close quarters, in case of an action. No man was to 
fire his musket unless so ordered by an officer. 

Commander Wainwright, with a few sailors armed with 
cutlasses and pistols, visited tjie wharf on the twenty-sixth. 
After a conference with Colonel Burrell, a recomioissance 
through Galveston and its suburbs was determined upon. 
Captain Sherive, with about one hundred men, including 
the sailors, accompanied by the colonel, adjutant, quarter- 
master and chaplain, with Wainwright, started about nine 
o'clock in the morning to reconnoitre, proceeding as far as 
the brick kilns, some two miles outside of the city. It 
was not deemed advisable to go further in the direction 
of Eagle Grove, about three miles, but a circuit of the 
outskirts was made and the city looked over. The inhab- 
itants had 'fled. It was almost entirely deserted. Unlike 
many other cities and towns occupied by Federal troops, 
very few colored people were to be seen. A lookout was 
established in a four-story brick building on the Strand 
near Market Square and within the guard lines, where all 
that was going on at Eagle Grove on the island, and Vir- 
ginia Point on the main-land, was distinctly visible in the 
daytime by the aid of a field-glass. This lookout was con- 
stantly maintained. 

In the afternoon Colonel Burrell, accompanied by Vol- 
unteer Engineer Long, proceeded in the Harriet Lane 
towards West Bay as far as the channel would allow. A 
good view of Eagle Grove and Virginia Point was obtained. 
The earthwork, mounting three guns, thrown up at Eagle 
Grove by Confederates, to protect the railroad bridge, 
was abandoned. The end of the bridge at Virginia Point 
was protected by extensive works with heavy guns in posi- 
tion, and here the enemy appeared to be in force. Their 
camps could be plainly seen. 

It was while on this trip in the Harriet La?ie that 



76 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Colonel Burrell made up his mind to destroy the railroad 
bridge. None of the naval vessels could get near enough 
to do any permanent damage, on account of the narrow, 
tortuous and shallow channel. The distance from the 
fleet anchorage by way of the channel was about four and 
one-half miles. Heavy naval guns, fired from a point of 
anchorage where it would have been safe to try it, would 
not have reached the bridge with any accuracy, the gun- 
carriages not admitting a sufficient elevation of the guns 
to carry shot or shell that distance, while such heavy 
charges of powder would be required for the distance that 
the concussion upon the gun-decks of such vessels as were 
then at Galveston would have caused serious damage to 
the vessels, had everything been favorable in other par- 
ticulars for attempting the destruction of the bridge 
in this manner. The bridge could not be effectually 
severed by the navy except by sending up armed launches 
prepared for such duty. These the gunboats did not 
have ; all of their row-boats were small, not capable of 
carrying light guns, even if they had them. This would 
have been hazardous service, as the enemy were vigilant 
and brave. That the navy could have sent up boat crews 
and destroyed it when the vessels first entered the harbor 
in October, was admitted by a number of naval officers, 
because the enemy had precipitately taken flight, abandon- 
ing everything. The Confederate military commander at 
that time was a weak-kneed sort of man. In a very short 
time the Confederate troops rallied, removed all of their 
guns on the island, and built the works at Eagle Grove 
rendering the attempt hazardous. Destroying the bridge 
would not have prevented all communication between the 
island and the main-land, only rendered it difficult, as 
the enemy had plenty of boats hid in the creeks and 
bayous adjacent that could be used for ferry purposes. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 77 

But no attempt of any sort had been made by the navy 
since first entering Galveston Bay to damage or sever this 
bridge. 

Collecting barrels of tar pitch, with other combustible 
material, and confiscating a dray (all horses had been run 
out of town), the colonel ordered them stored ready for 
use, intending to move up immediately on the landing of 
the balance of his regiment, occupy the works at Eagle 
Grove, destroy the bridge as far as possible, mount some 
heavy guns, and shell the enemy from his works on the 
main-land. Those naval officers who talked the matter 
over with officers of the Forty-Second agreed that it 
ought to be done. Commander Wainwright was especially 
in favor of severing this means of communication. Had 
the seven companies of the regiment arrived on or before 
the twent3'-eighth of December, it was thought not much 
difficulty would have been experienced. The enemy soon 
ascertained the small strength of the detachment landed, 
and on the twenty-ninth reoccupied the earthworks at 
Eagle Grove, and mounted heavy cannon to protect the 
bridge and approaches. Colonel Burrell then requested 
Commander Renshaw to go up the bay as far as possible 
with two of his lightest draft vessels, and shell the enemy 
from the island, which he refused to do. After the 
twenty-eighth December, the destruction of this bridge 
could not have been accomplished without an action with 
the enemy in force at Eagle Grove, but an attempt would 
have been made had not the event of January ist occurred. 

During the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, while Captain 
Sherive with a small force of men was out on a foraging 
expedition, to see what could be found for cooking-stoves, 
eight Confederate cavalry-men appeared under a flag of 
truce, with a request to see the British consul. No flag- 
of-truce trick could be played on Captain Sherive. He 



78 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

promptly halted the party, and notified his commanding 
officer. One man, under guard, was allowed to see the 
consul, and the Confederate captain in charge was 
ordered to leave by six o'clock, as after that hour they 
would be fired upon. For weeks had the enemy enjoyed 
the hospitality of Commander Renshaw under these 
convenient flags of truce, used freely for the most trivial 
reasons ; but the military commander stopped all such 
nonsense at once. This truce flag was the only one 
recognized until the day of surrender. 

Supplies of food were not plenty in the city. The 
Confederates would not allow any to be brought from the 
main-land, consequently, what few inhabitants remained 
in Galveston, mostly women, found it hard work to subsist. 
In a small way, rations were given to them by Colonel 
Burrell. Not much could be done in this direction, owing 
to the small supply on hand for the troops, who must be 
fed and kept in fighting condition. There were quite a 
number of German women with gold and silver coin, who 
wished to purchase provisions from the quartermaster. 
Their husbands were serving in the Confederate army, 
and much valuable information was obtained from them. 

Confederate cavalry commenced to infest the city and 
suburbs at night, about three days after a landing was 
made ; but did not attempt to molest the pickets. These 
cavalry-men came along the beach, concealed by a range 
of sand hills on the Gulf shore ; on reaching the outskirts 
they would separate to go through the city in squads of 
two and three. Before daylight these squads would 
rendezvous at a place called Schmidt's Garden, and return 
to Eagle Grove by the same route they came. They 
easily obtained, during these nocturnal trips, all informa- 
tion they required, for the men talked freely with such of 
the inhabitants as wished to converse. While there were 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 79 

a handful of Union men, or refugees as they were termed 
by the enemy, who sought protection under the Federal 
flag, the bulk of the small population, men, women and 
children, were secessionists to the core. 

Lieutenant Eddy and Private Hersey must have had 
this fact very forcibly impressed upon their minds when 
they were entertained by some Galveston ladies at a house 
on the Strand, some two miles from quarters, on the after- 
noon of Sunday, December 28th. The ladies sang all of 
the latest Confederate songs, Eddy and Hersey in return 
singing the latest from the North. The conversation was 
bitter disunion on the female side, and well calculated to 
draw out information on military affairs. On bidding 
them good afternoon as they left, several young men were 
seen loitering in the vicinity, who had undoubtedly been 
listeners to the conversation. 

While the enemy easily obtained information of the 
Federal strength, position and purposes, the men of the 
Forty-Second as easily secured definite information of the 
Confederate strength and intentions. At this game of 
cards honors were easy. 

On the night of the twenty-seventh a report was brought 
in that a force of Confederate cavalry was in the city. 
Captain Sherive with fifty men and Captain Savage with 
fifty men received separate orders to drive them out. 
Taking different directions, a thorough scout failed to 
discover any traces of this cavalry until Captain Sherive 
arrived at the beach road leading to Fort Point, when 
fresh horse-shoe prints in the sand were discovered, show- 
ing that a force of mounted men had gone in the 
direction of Fort Point, where there was an abandoned 
earthwork thrown up to command the harbor entrance. 
Captain Savage came up soon after, joined forces with 
Sherive, and was directed to place his men on the sand 



8o HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

ridge of the beach, lying down, while Sherive with his 
men covered the beach, and all awaited developments. 
About midnight Captain Savage became impatient, if not 
a little timid, as signal rockets were seen sent up in the 
city, and he declined to remain longer, proceeding back to 
the wharf. This forced Captain Sherive to retire also, as 
he doubted his ability to meet the supposed force of the 
enemy with the men left. It was afterwards ascertained 
that the party was General Magruder, reconnoitring the 
entrance to the bay with some eighty of his officers and 
men, who would certainly have been captured, killed, or 
wounded, if the detachments had remained where Captain 
Sherive had them posted. There was no escape, except 
by breaking through the detachments, and the enemy 
could not successfully do that while Captain Sherive was 
around. Captain Savage destroyed the telegraph lines 
connecting Galveston with the main-land, that had re- 
mained intact up to this time, as part of the night's 
operations. 

There was a lull in the preparations and rounds of duty 
on Sunday, the twenty-eighth, giving the men that rest they 
sorely needed. Only two civilians were molested by the 
troops during their short stay in Galveston. A German 
was arrested on this day for uttering seditious language. 
He was confined at guard quarters in the wharf store- 
house, remaining there during the action of January ist, 
almost forgotten, but miraculously escaped without a 
wound. The other was a citizen caught hanging around 
the head of the wharf in a suspicious manner, and was 
arrested for a spy, retained in confinement some six hours, 
and then released. This arrest occurred on the th. 

Sunday afternoon Colonel Burrell, in a row-boat, pro- 
ceeded to Fort Point to inspect a loo Pr. gun, dis- 
mounted in the fort, with the intention of removing 




-=J 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 8 1 

it to the earthwork at Eagle Grove when his force was 
increased. The gun was found to be sound, not spiked, 
and ready for immediate service, when mounted on a 
gun-carriage. The story of the dismounting of this 
heavy gun, as told by naval officers and sailors, is said 
to be true. 

It seems that when the fleet was sailing towards Gal- 
veston Bar the orders were not to fire, even if fired upon, 
until the signal was displayed from the flag-ship. A gun- 
ner on the Clifto7i^ standing by his gun, with lanyard 
in hand, accidentally slipped when the vessel lurched, 
causing him to pull the lanyard with a sudden jerk 
and fire the gun. Without being trained on the fort, 
the solid shot took effect on the gun-carriag-e of this 
I GO Pr., near the stanchions, shattering the carriage, 
heaving the gun up in the air, tumbling it over backward 
in the sand. The garrison became panic struck at the 
effect of this chance shot and fled. The fleet then entered 
the harbor without another gun being fired. 

The situation looked serious, and with a doubt in his 
mind about the loyalty of the naval commander, and no 
news from his expected reenforcements. Colonel Burrell 
decided on the twenty-ninth to send Quartermaster Burrell 
to New Orleans on the Saxon, with despatches for General 
Banks. The commissary supplies had dwindled down to 
fifteen days rations for three hundred men, and the ammu- 
nition was not available. Engineer Long decided to go 
also, not being under the orders of Colonel Burrell, and 
took passage on the Saxon. Much to the transport cap- 
tain's relief, for he had been in a highly nervous state 
while lying at the wharf, the Saxon left, proceeding as far 
as Pelican SjDit, where she had to remain until January ist. 
A strong northerly wind, that continued on the thirtieth 
and thirty-first, had blown the water from Galveston Bar 



82 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

SO that only three feet of water covered it, rendering pro- 
ceeding to sea imi^ossible. 

LETTER CARRIED TO GENERAL BANKS, BY QUARTER- 
MASTER BURRELL. 

" Headquarters, 
"Galveston, Texas, December 29th, 1862. 

"6'/r; In obedience to orders, upon arriving at this 
place on the evening of the twenty-fourth instant, after 
consulting with the commander of the blockading fleet, I 
landed the three companies of my command, which were 
with me upon the transport Saxo?i, on the end of Kuhn's 
Wharf, and quartered them in the warehouse there. I 
have taken possession of the city as boldly as I could 
with the small force at my command, and have thoroughly 
reconnoitred the built-upon portions of the city up to 
within range of their battery at Eagle Grove, which is 
apparently well built, mounting three guns. They have 
also one gun at the draw, which is about midway of the 
bridge. Upon Virginia Point they have a strong battery, 
mounted with heavy guns. From the best information 
obtainable, I judge their force in this immediate vicinity 
to be about two thousand strong. 

" During the day we control the city, but at night, owing 
to our small force (as the balance of my regiment has not 
yet arrived), I am obliged to draw in the pickets to the wharf 
on which we are quartered. I think there are still living 
upon the island about three thousand persons, a large pro- 
portion of whom are women and children. A great many 
of these people are almost entirely destitute of the means 
of subsistence, as the enemy will not allow anything to be 
brought over from the main-land, thinking, doubtless, to 
make them disloyal by starvation. The naval officer in 
command has contributed all he could spare from his 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 83 

Stores, and my men have shared their bread rations with 
them. I believe the larger part of the residents now here 
to be loyal and really desire to remain in the city, and that 
common humanity calls upon us to render them assistance. 
This, in my judgment, can best be done by placing the 
city under martial law as soon as my force is large enough, 
and forcing the rich, who are mainly the secessionists, to 
feed the poor. I would most respectfully urge upon your 
consideration the necessity of sending provisions for imme- 
diate relief. These can be sold to them at Government 
prices, thus conferring a real charity, without subjecting 
them to the mortification of being beggars. Under the 
existing circumstances I have thought it best to send one 
of my staff. Quartermaster Burrell, and Mr. Long, the 
engineer, who accompanied us here, to report to you in 
person. These gentlemen will explain in detail the state 
of affairs, and the importance of the knowledge which 
they can convey to you has, in my judgment, authorized 
me in ordering the Saxo?t back to New Orleans, which I 
humbly trust will meet your approbation. 

"I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 
"ISAAC S. BURRELL, 
" Colonel commanding 4.2d regiment Mass. Vols.^^ 

*rhe small schooner Corypheus had lying useless upon 
her deck two captured 12 Pr. Howitzer field-guns, with 
over three hundred rounds of ammunition for them. 
Adjutant D»vis was sent on the night of the twenty-ninth 
to Commander Renshaw, with a request for the guns to be 
landed upon the wharf. Colonel Burrell intended to place 
them in position in the storehouse, opening port-holes on 
the land side. Company D (the old Roxbury Artillery) 
had many Roxbury men who knew how to handle such 
guns, besides having in the ranks a dozen man-of-wars 



84 

men, who had enlisted in Boston shortly after their dis- 
charge from a war-vessel, that had arrived from a long 
cruise. The idea was ridiculed by Renshaw, who flatly 
refused the request. 

General Magruder, when he assumed command in De- 
cember of the Confederate forces in Texas, immediately 
set about perfecting plans to recover possession of Gal- 
veston, and to capture or cripple the fleet. These plans 
were so far matured that he -intended to attack on the 
twenty-seventh, but was obliged to postpone it until the 
morning of January ist from delay in fitting out his river 
steamers. 

The naval commander heard of these steamers being 
got in readiness to attack him, but did not think he would 
have much difficulty in blowing them to pieces with his 
guns ; in fact, affected to look upon such preparations of 
,the enemy as futile. As for the information of Magruder's 
plan of action on land, obtained by the military force, none 
of the naval officers, with the exception of Wainwright, 
placed much reliance upon it until the thirtyTfirst, as they 
had heard every day since they had been there reports of 
an attack to be made. 

Definite news was obtained on the thirtieth that the 
enemy would make an attack that day or next. Com- 
mander Renshaw had not at any time since the troops 
landed been very communicative, or evince any desire to 
consult over the situation, although an occasional visitor 
to the military headquarters. Determined t(^ protect the 
men as far as possible, a second breastwork, close to the 
storehouse, was commenced in the afternoon and finished 
by midnight, tearing up the wharf in front and opening 
another gap for fifty feet. 

The two breastworks were strong enough to resist 
infantry-fire, but not artillery. Composed of two and two 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 85 

and one-half inch planking laid one upon the other, two 
planks deep, so that the faces were composed of the edges 
only, they were some thirty inches in thickness, built 
shoulder high. On this last work the entrance port was 
protected by a cotton bale. Not satisfied with this, a raft 
lying at the wharf, such as is used by caulkers in working 
on vessels' seams near the water line, was raised from the 
water by hard labor, and securely placed in position on 
the right of the second breastwork, to protect as far as it 
would a fire from the next wharf on that flank, one-eighth 
of a mile distant. The storehouse protected the left flank 
from infantry-fire from the wharf on that side, also about 
one-eighth of a mile distant. 

That night a false alarm, about ten o'clock, brought the 
entire force to arms behind the breastworks, and gunboats 
took positions near the wharf as agreed — one on the left 
and one on the right. 

While the city was apparently deserted for some days 
after landing, on the thirtieth and thirty-first of December 
it was noticed that many men in citizen's attire had returned 
and were strolling around. It was believed then, by the 
officers of the Forty-Second, that these men were in the 
Confederate service. No attempt was made to interfere 
with them so long as they remained civil, committing no 
overt wrong. With the small force on hand, no decisive 
measures concerning the inhabitants could be adopted, or 
any attempt made to govern the city. 

During the day of the thirty-first, in company with Com- 
mander Wainwright, Colonel Burrell with a guard patrolled 
some of the streets, and noticed many of these strange 
faces, who seemed to shun them. From the lookout station 
the enemy were seen assembling on the plain near Eagle 
Grove, horse, foot and artillery. Wainwright remarked : 
"Active operations going on, colonel ; things look squally, 



S6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

and we had better not remain here. I will go up to-morrow 
and feel of them." He intended to go up in his vessel as 
far as the channel would permit, and endeavor to shell 
them from the island. 

Between these two officers a friendship for each other 
existed from their first meeting. They were frequently 
together, strollers around the city and suburbs, consulting 
the STATUS of affairs. Many of the other naval officers 
were frequent visitors, very courteous and obliging, but 
none appeared to take the same interest in matters that 
Wainwright did. The Forty-Second officers thought he 
was the only live man in the fleet. 

In none of their perambulations and confidential talks 
did Wainwright breathe a word against his superior officer, 
although the colonel, after a few days on shore, could not 
remain quiet with the conviction forced upon his mind that 
Renshaw was not acting in such a manner as to warrant 
confidence, and bluntly told Wainwright only a day or two 
before the final events took place he thought Renshaw was 
a traitor. To this plain and straightforward expression of 
opinion the naval captain made no reply. Not so with 
the sailors ; the}^, coming in contact with the enlisted 
men, frequently expressed their suspicion of the " com- 
modore." 

On the morning of the thirty-first of December the 
Owasco went down to the coal bark Arthur, lyii^g in the 
channel near the harbor entrance, about a mile and one- 
half from the wharf, for a supply of coal. Contrary to her 
usual custom she did not return to her position near the 
wharf when night came. The Westfield lay near Pelican 
Spit, on guard at the harbor entrance, and covering the 
Bolivar channel of the bay. She had lately received a 
new heavy gun, brought by the Te?i?iessee to replace one 
disabled while on the coast some time previous. Up to 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 87' 

midnight the balance of the fleet were distributed along 
the water front of Galveston, in the channel, which aver- 
aged at any point only a little less than two hundred and 
twenty yards in width. The Clifton was at the right of 
Kuhn's Wharf, about one hundred yards distant; then 
came the Sachem, still at work on repairs to her boilers ; 
then the small schooner Corypheits ; and up the channel, 
a mile away, nearly opposite the depot wharf, was stationed 
the Hari'iet La7ie. 

At night a conference was held by officers of the 
Forty-Second. Positions were assigned for the companies 
in case of attack. Companies D and I remained upon the 
wharf, in the building, to snatch what sleep they could, 
while Company G, Captain Proctor in command, was on 
picket during the night. The three companies had been 
held in readiness every night since landing. Those not on 
duty slept on their arms. On the thirtieth and thirty-first 
only one company at a time was allowed to sleep. The 
men were informed of what was expected, their courage 
and manhood appealed to, with every point emphasized, 
that would naturally tend to inspire them with confidence. 
Not a word was uttered that could possibly convey any 
idea foreign to the fact, that fight was a duty they were to 
perform. 

Burrell did not like the outlook, nor his position upon 
the wharf. Commodore Renshaw had failed to inspire 
him with any confidence in his integrity. Seated in his 
quarters that evening to muse over his situation, without 
allowing his officers or men to know his thoughts for fear 
of disheartening them, the colonel fully determined to 
order the Saxon up to the wharf next morning, embark his 
men, and remain on board in the harbor until reenforce- 
ments arrived. 

About midnight Colonel Burrell, Captain Sherive, and 



88 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Chaplain Sanger, visited the picket sentinel posts in the 
city, finding the men were drawn in from their original 
positions, and did not occupy the usual ground. The 
original posts were reestablished. Rumbling noise of artil- 
lery wheels was heard distinctly through the night, together 
with the sound of moving railroad cars accompanied by 
the locomotive whistles. Captain Proctor had reported in 
person to inform Colonel Burrell, "■ there was trouble 
ahead " ; so when the Harriet Lane, in the moonlight, dis- 
covered black smoke from smoke-stacks of Confederate 
vessels across the bay, some two miles away, and signaled 
with rockets. Lieutenant Stowell, placed in charge of the 
fireworks signals, burned some lights for the purpose of 
giving information to the navy that the military force was 
wide awake and ready. Every man on the wharf was 
ordered to. man the breastworks. 

It was at this time the colonel noticed that the Clifton 
had left her position. She was signaled by Renshaw from 
the VVestJield that he was aground, and gone to her assist- 
ance between twelve and one o'clock. The Westfield dis- 
covered these Confederate steamers about the same time 
as the Harriet Lane and got under way, but very soon was 
hard and fast ashore at high water. The absence of both 
the Owasco and Clifton left the military upon the wharf 
unprotected on the flanks for some hours. 

The Bayou City had left Choppers Bar, at Morgan's 
Point, between nine and ten o'clock Wednesday night, 
December 31st, with the Royal Yacht and y. F. Carr in 
tow. The Royal Yacht got aground at Redfish Bar and 
had to be left behind. The Confederate boats being light 
draft steamers could navigate the shoal waters of the bay, 
and were not obliged, on arriving opposite the city, to 
keep to the ship channel. Upon being discov^ered these 
steamers withdrew out of sight to Half Moon Shoals, six 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 89 

miles distant. The military force went into their barracks 
again to sleep on their arms. 

Captain Sherive, with the chaplain, made a second visit 
to the city, by a mistake getting outside of the lines ; they 
had been drawn in once more without any notification to 
the rest of the command. They found the city full of 
people; and had the enemy been ready then for operations, 
both officers would have been killed, or wounded and taken 
prisoners. Not ready to act, the Confederates kept in 
hiding as much as possible. 

About half-past three o'clock in the morning, masses of 
moving men in the streets were discovered by the picket 
sentries, who fired at them and slowly fell back toward the 
wharf, without eliciting a fire in return. The troops asleep 
in the barracks, equipments and overcoats on, for the night 
was cold, and guns by their side, were immediately ordered 
up, and to line the work built on the thirtieth. The order 
was promptly obeyed : Company I upon the right ; Com- 
pany G upon the left ; while Company D was to be sta- 
tioned in line, with its left resting at the breastwork, the 
right prolonged towards the harbor, ready to wheel either 
to the right or left up to the work. As the picket detail 
came in over the single plank left upon the openings in 
the wharf for that purpose, they took position with Com- 
pany G. Lieutenant Newcomb was the last man in. Up 
to between one and two o'clock a bright moonlight ena- 
bled objects to be distinguished for some distance, but 
after two o'clock darkness had shut in to such a degree 
that objects ten feet off could not be seen. A few cheering 
words were rapidly addressed to his men by the colonel, 
who cautioned them not to forget the State they repre- 
sented, and to reserve their fire until orders were given to 
commence. The enemy lost no time in getting into posi- 
tion. Magruder must have expected to be able to cut off 



go HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the whole or part of the picket from reaching the wharf 
by placing his first gun at the large open door of the Star 
Foundry, a building at the head of the next wharf to the 
right of Kuhn's Wharf, for the position gave him a chance 
to rake the wharf. It was this gun that was first fired, 
having been rapidly placed in the foundry after the pickets 
gave warning he was at hand. 

A city clock had a few minutes previous struck four 
o'clock when this gun was fired by General Magruder in 
person, the ball glancing over the edge of the breastwork, 
crashing through the storehouse, and the action opened. 
All of the enemy's artillery opened fire shortly after 
with solid shot, shell and canister. Before he fired 
the first gun, Magruder remarked : " Boys, now we will 
give them hell," and after firing left for his head- 
quarters, established on Broadway, saying, " Now boys, 
I have done my part as private, I will go and attend to 
that of general." 

A number of men not exactly sick, but worn out and 
tired from continued hard work, together with a few lazy 
fellows, remained in the building when the rest filed out. 
They did not stay long. Private Mosely, Company D, 
who was lying down when told by Sergeant Waterman to 

get up and come along, said it was " d d nonsense," 

and proposed to have some sleep. The cannon ball crash- 
ing and smashing things over his head sent Mose rolling 
down the run that lead to the second story. Private Dave 
Howe, Company D, who claimed to be sick, climbed out 
of a window to a pitch roof, that covered the water tank, 
straddling along until the end was reached, when he found 
himself looking down into the water; a shell over his head 
just then sent him wriggling back and through the window 
again, and down he tumbled over the run to the wharf. 
One of the incidents the men can never forget was the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 9 1 

chaplain finding Privates Thompson and Vining had got 
into a large iron tank, used to catch rain-water from the 
Storehouse roofs, that was set upon its side close to the 
building, drove them out and got in himself.- Not a 
very safe place to take shelter if^a solid shot happened 
to strike it. 

The Confederate land force under General Magruder, 
consisted of infantry commands of Colonels Green, Bagby 
and Reily, Lieutenant-Colonel L. A. Abercrombie and 
Major Griffin ; Colonel Pyron's regiment dismounted dra- 
goons ; Colonel X. B. Debray's cavalry regiment ; and 
cavalry companies of Captain Bowles, Atkins, Andrews, 
and Durant ; Colonel J. J. Cook's regiment artillery ; 
and Wilson's six-gun light battery. The country for miles 
around was thoroughly scoured for volunteers, who flocked 
to Magruder's force, in this way swelled to about five or 
six thousand men of all arms. The brigade commanders 
were Brigadier-General W. R. Scurry and Colonel Reily. 
General Scurry had command in the immediate vicinity 
of the wharf. Besides Wilson's light battery the enemy 
had six siege guns, fourteen field pieces — some of them 
rifled — and a railroad ram, armed with an eight-inch 
Dahlgren mounted on a railroad fiat car. Most of this 
artillery arrived from the Mississippi River a week before. 
In regard to the numbers of his men General Magruder, 
in conversation with the officers some time after they were 
prisoners of war, admitted he had no means of officially 
knowing the strength of his force, and then placed it as 

Daniel Harvey Vining, of Weymouth, an odd character, was sixty-five years old. 
He tried to get mustered with Company A, but the mustering officer rejected him as 
too old. When Company D was mustered into service Vining dyed his hair, fixed 
up to look young, and tried it again with that company. The officer knew him 
however, and asked: "How old are you to-day?" Vining answered promptly, 
" Forty-four years old." No further questions were put and he was mustered in, to 
his delight. 



92 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

about five or six thousand men because such large numbers 
of volunteers joined him. 

Details of the attack were made at Pyron's camp. Three 
heavy guns were ordered to Fort Point in charge of Cajo- 
tain S. T. Fontaine, of (book's artillery regiment, supported 
by six companies dismounted dragoons, under Colonel 
Pyron. Major Wilson was to open fire on the wharf with 
his battery. The railroad ram was to take position on 
railroad wharf to fire at the Harriet Lane. The remainder 
of the artillery, manned by Cook's regiment, was to be 
posted in eligible positions on the Strand and water front, 
and warehouses along the edge. Artillery was hauled by 
mules and by hand half way to the city from the railroad 
bridge, at one o'clock that night. A large quantity of 
cotton was also carried by rail to railroad wharf for use in 
building a breastwork, besides a large quantity of intrench- 
ing tools, for the purpose of Magruder was to throw up 
intrenchments at the ends of streets leading to the water 
if his plan of action did not succeed before daylight. Sig- 
nals agreed upon were : white light — enemy in sight ; 
blue light — order to prepare; red light — make ready 
for action ; at twenty minutes intervals. 

General Magruder is credited with sending this dis- 
patch to Major Leon Smith from Summit Station, 
thirty-five miles from Galveston, on the Galveston and 
Houston Railroad, as his soldiers commenced the march 
to take positions assigned them : " I am oif, and will 
make the attack as agreed, whether you come up or 
not. The rangers of the prairie send greeting to the 
rangers of the sea." 

Upon reaching the city, shortly before four o'clock, 
the Confederates placed a 32 Pr. gun at the cotton 
press near McKinney's Wharf, to engage the Harriet 
Lane. This point was the left of the Confederate battle 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 93 

line. A 42 Pr. gun was placed at the head of Kiihn's 
Wharf, near Social Hall, and a section of Wilson's 
battery was near Hendleir's Wharf. Why they did not 
attempt to place guns upon ends of the wharves on each 
side of Kuhn's Wharf, where an enfilading fire upon the 
soldiers of the Forty-Second could have been obtained, is 
a mystery, unless they feared the positions too much 
exposed. 

Of the navy, the Sachem was first to open fire, followed 
by the Corypheus and the Harriet Lane. For an hour did 
shot and shell fly all around the troops upon the wharf, 
accompanied with musket balls, causing them to think 
they were to get " h — 11 " sure, as Magruder said, and 
to hu^ the planks and huddle close to the breastwork 
in such a manner that the original position planned 
for them to take at that work was lost. After a few 
rounds had been fired at them with no wholesale 
slaughter occurring, many of the men began to gain 
that confidence old soldiers possess, and to note progress 
of the action. 

The navy fired high and made hot work in the city, but 
did not for some time do any execution among the enemy's 
guns. Seeing this, Captain Sherive shouted to them : 
" Fire lower, and not so high," In spite of the distance, 
sailors of the Sachem, who were afterwards taken prisoners 
at Sabine Pass, said they distinctly heard the warning, and 
then depressed their guns as much as possible. The Con- 
federates admitted that the firing from heavy guns on the 
naval vessels was hard to stand. The crashing of walls 
and falling timbers, and a constant rain of bricks, mortar 
and roofing, as the shot and shell plunged through build- 
ings, added to the crash of many hundreds of window 
panes, assisted to make the night hideous. 

At the first shot from the enemy Colonel Burrell ordered 



94 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIAIENT, 

every man to lie down. During the first hour the colonel 
walked the wharf, taking careful notice of all that occurred. 
Many shells would drop upon the wharf and explode, or 
burst overhead, pieces flying forward and overboard, yet 
he did not receive a scratch. A shell exploded in the 
storehouse and, seeing flame and smoke, he ran in, but a 
wooden partition prevented his reaching the fire. He 
shouted : " Is any one in there .? " Private Hersey, with a 
few others, was lying down close to one of the rain-water 
hogsheads in the building when the fire started among the 
tents stored there, and at once endeavored to put it out. 
Hersey answered that he was and that the tents were on 
fire, when Colonel Burrell ordered them thrown into the 
water by a back door, that could be easily reached. Part 
of the burning tents were soon floating in the harbor; but 
finding an empty pail, and drawing water from the hogs- 
head, Hersey soon extinguished the fire. The ammunition 
that lay in dangerous proximity to the tents was at once 
attended to. A call for men to " come in here and rout 
out this ammunition " was promptly obeyed by a squad of 
men, who soon placed the boxes near the end of the wharf 
where they could easily be pitched overboard in case of 
necessity. 

It was still dark at five o'clock when the enemy suddenly 
ceased their artillery fire. This was ominous ; everybody 
felt an assault was premeditated. Not a shot had been 
fired from the wharf, which must have deceived the enemy 
as to the condition the Forty-Second detachment was in 
to repel an assault. They supposed many were killed or 
wounded. A sharp lookout from the breastwork was 
ordered. Somebody sung out that they were coming in 
boats to the left of the wharf. Colonel Burrell called for 
men, and ran to where the storehouse abuts the wharf- 
edge, but could not see or hear anything. Leaving the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 95 

men to watch, he rapidly passed back to the breastwork 
to see that the men there took position ready to open fire, 
and again ran back to the left. He was there when the 
first fire was opened to repel the assault. 

The assaulting column (about five hundred men) under 
Colonel Cook, said to have been composed of two small 
regiments, could be heard splashing in the water as they 
waded out. The understanding among the officers was, 
in case of an assault they were to wait until tlie enemy 
came within easy range before firing. 

Adjutant Davis, Captains Proctor and Sherive, and Lieu- 
tenant Newcomb, were anxiously looking over the breast- 
work into the darkness to catch a glimpse of where the 
enemy were. Captain Proctor sang out that he could see 
moving objects in the water, when Adjutant Davis gave 
the order to fire. A volley was given, followed up by 
some rapid firing at will, as fast as the men could load. 
Those in the front ranks had to look out, for in the excite- 
ment men from the rear would crowd up and blaze away 
regardless of friend or foe. As the line of fire was mostly 
straight away from the shoulder, very few firing downwards 
into the water, the casualities to the attacking force was 
not heavy. Some of them attempted to come out upon 
the wharf, by placing planks over the openings where they 
had been torn up. They did get to the first breastwork, 
and showed their heads above it, as the musketry flashes 
lit up the scene, but no further. 

The Sachei7i and Corypheiis, attracted by this fight, sent 
shot and shells toward the head of the wharf among the 
enemy in such a manner that they were glad to fall back, 
with such scaling ladders as they carried, taking most of 
the dead and wounded ashore. A few bodies were floating 
in the water during the morning hours. 

After this repulse the enemy retired behind the pro- 



96 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

tection of buildings and side streets, out of musket range. 
The combined fire of the three gunboats, who continued 
to send their compliments among the enemy's artillery 
placed to cover Kuhn's Wharf, prevented the Confederates 
from anything more than random artillery firing after this 
assault. Some of their batteries they had previously found 
great difficulty in keeping manned ; the gunners were 
forced to return to their pieces many times by cavalry 
patrols stationed in the rear. 

As daylight dawned, a scattered musketry- fire was opened 
on both sides. The Confederate riflemen took positions 
in windows, and upon the flat roofs of such warehouses as 
overlooked the wharf within range. The small field-gun, 
stationed at the Star Foundry, was sending some shells 
which exploded underneath the wharf, making it a question 
whether the piling would not eventually be severed and 
destroy the wharf. The gunners had also got the range 
where the men lay, and by a little elevation they could 
sweep them. Hastily calling for some good rifle shots, 
Colonel Burrell posted them near the flanking raft, with 
orders to prevent that gun from being served. This detail 
did the duty well, effectually putting a stop to the Con- 
federates dodging from around the street corner to load 
and fire. Major Dickinson, General Magruder's assistant 
adjutant-general, lost an eye while gallantry trying to attach 
a drag-rope to the gun in order to draw it away, when they 
found it dangerous to keep at work ; a nephew of the gen- 
eral. Lieutenant George A. Magruder, aide-de-camp, also 
made the attempt after Dickinson was wounded — all of 
no avail, the gun had to be abandoned by them. 

An attempt was made about seven o'clock to launch a 
boat that was upon the wharf for repairs, and then sup- 
posed to be in condition for use, in order to send Captain 
Sherive, who volunteered to go, on board one of the ves- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 97 

sels with a request that they come up and take the troops 
off. Colonel Burrell, Captain Sherive, Adjutant Davis, 
Lieutenant Cowdin and Private Morrill, Company D, had 
got the boat launched from the end of the wharf, but it 
filled with water and sank at once, because some bullet 
holes had not been noticed, when the riflemen from a brick 
building at the head of the next wharf commenced to fire 
at them. As the bullets began to whistle over their heads 
the men shouted : " Look out, colonel, they are firing at 
you ! " Private Morrill was severely wounded in a hand. 
Captain Sherive and Adjutant Davis dodged behind hawser 
posts, Lieutenant Cowdin jumped for shelter, and the 
colonel disappeared in a hurry down a sloping freight 
gangway that was handy. The men thought he was shot 
until he called to them : " I am all right." 

In a few moments the Owasco was seen in the slight 
foggy mist of the morning coming along from the coal 
bark, and when off the wharf sent a few shells into the 
building, driving the annoying riflemen out. Th&' Clifio7t, 
ordered by Renshaw to return to the city when the action 
opened, with difficulty kept the channel, and returned from 
Pelican Spit soon after daylight, opening fire upon the 
enemy's guns placed in position on the sand beach near 
Fort Point by Captain Fontaine, driving the gunners away, 
and continued on past the wharf a short distance, taking 
position near the Sachem. In passing, a solid shot was 
fired over the wharf obliquely, into the brick building 
used for a lookout station, one quarter of a mile distant, 
tearing a corner out and making a bad wreck of the 
building. 

With the exception of a few shot and shell fired into 
the city by the gunboats nearly all firing had ceased when 
it was about broad daylight. The enemy had removed 
most of their artillery; only a few pieces remained that 



98 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the}^ could not and dare not persist in attempting to take 
away : the rifles of Company G could reach them and 
prevented it. Captain Sherive asked permission to take 
his company out and secure them, but the colonel would 
not allow it, fearing an ambuscade. Volunteers were 
called for, to go out and ascertain the position of the 
enemy. Several volunteered, but the selection fell- upon 
Private Colson, Company I, a rather tough customer, who 
had been put in irons for misbehavior and confined in the 
guard-house for some time, but been released. He went 
out, soon returned, and reported the enemy hid behind 
buildings and massed in the yards not far away. 

The naval force, excepting the JVes/Jield, all assembled 
on the harbor front, daylight to assist them in discovering 
the enemy's position ; the front of Kuhn's Wharf cleared 
of their presence, it did seem for a short time that a vic- 
tory would eventually be won. 

In less than fifteen minutes the whole aspect of affairs 
was changed. The State authorities had taken the Bayou 
City, a Houston and Galveston packet steamer, made 
bulwarks of cotton bales upon her sides and armed her 
with a 68 Pr. rifled gun, placed in the bow. The river 
steamer Neptune was also fitted out in the same man- 
ner and carried two Howitzer guns. Steamers Lucy 
Govh'u and Royal Yacht were used as tenders to collect 
wood for the gunboats, and steamer Johji F. Carr was 
fitted up for a hospital boat. 

The Bayou City was commanded by Captain Henry 
Lubbock, with Captain M. McCormick for pilot. Colonel 
Green had command of troops on board, about one hun- 
dred and fifty men. Captain A. R. Wier, Cook's regiment 
artillery, was in charge of her artillery. Captain Martin, 
of the cavalry, was a volunteer on board. The Neptune 
was commanded by Captain Sangster, with Captains Swift 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



99 



and McGovern for pilots. Colonel Bagby had command 
of troops on board, about one hundred men. Lieutenant 
Harby, in command of a company infantry acting as artil- 
lery, was in charge of her artillery. The John F. Carr 
was commanded by Major A. W. McKee. General 
•Magruder called for three hundred volunteers from 
Sibley's brigade, armed with Enfield rifles and double- 
barrel shot-guns, to man this flotilla. 

The entire flotilla was under command of Captain Leon 
Smith, a man of great experience in steamboat manage- 
ment, who was employed by Magruder in the Quarter- 
master Department, made a volunteer aide on his staff 
with rank of major, and afterwards called cotnmodore by 
the general. Major Smith had charge of all work in pre- 
paring these steamers for action. He had orders to be 
ready to attack the Federal vessels at midnight. 

At half-past four o'clock the Confederate flotilla, at 
Half Moon Shoals, fired up with rosin and proceeded 
towards Galveston, arriving within a mile of the Federal 
gunboats at daylight. 

When a lookout on the Harriet Lane soon after mid- 
night first discovered the Confederate flotilla, Wainwright, 
asleep in his stateroom, was notified and assumed charge 
of the deck. After this flotilla disappeared the Harriet 
Lane retained her position, with steam on, while her offi- 
cers, on the watch for further developments, leaned over 
her rails listening to sounds from on shore, that indicated 
some movement there by the enemy, until the first gun 
was fired at the wharf. Her anchor was then raised to the 
cathead, but not secured, and attempts made to turn 
around for the purpose of proceeding towards Kuhn's 
Wharf to occupy the place made va jant by the Clifton^ 
gone to Renshaw's assistance. To d j this without getting 
aground necessitated a use of great skill and consumed 



TOO HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

much time, for the vessel had to forward and back to 
gradually swing her bow around. Why she should have 
been stationed at this point — head of the ship channel 
where it was impossible to manoeuvre her — when the 
Wesifield or Cliftofi (old ferry-boats) were better adapted 
for the position, had often been discussed by naval officers 
at Galveston. 

While working his vessel around Wainwright opened 
fire on the city. Her bow was headed towards the wharf 
when signs of an approach by the flotilla were again seen^ 
which caused him to abandon proceeding down the channel 
and to work his vessel around again in order to present 
her bow to the enemy. Fairly around she steamed up to 
meet the Bayou City and Neptune^ who showed a disposition 
to attack, other cotton boats keeping out of harm's way. 
A fire was opened upon them with shells from her eight- 
inch forward gun, sending three shells and a cannon shot 
into the Bayou City ; the shells passed through her engi- 
neer's room, one exploding near the engineer, doing some 
damage ; the cannon shot passed through her messroom 
and pantry. 

Within one-half a mile the Bayou City o^^nQ& fire. Her 
second shot struck the Lane plumb behind a wheel, close 
to the magazine, making a hole large enough for a man to 
crawl through ; when fired a fourth time the gun exploded, 
killing Captain Wier, with others, and wounding Captairu; 
Schneider, with other men. * 

As it was plain that the enemy's intention was to close 
with him, Wainwright backed his vessel some distance in 
order to get a good headway, for it was understood on 
board, the La?ie was to try and ram her bow into the Bayou 
City, cut her down even if it crippled the La7ie, then reach 
the Neptune and capture her by boarding. This was not 
to be, because just before reaching the Bayou City her 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. lOI 

bow ran aground, barely allowing the Confederate pilot 
time to put his helm hard around in season to prevent his 
; boat going on to the Lane's bow in a strong ebb tide, which 
also prevented his running against the Larie so as to strike 
forward of the port or left wheel-house, which was his pur- 
pose to enable the Confederates to board. He did carry 
away the Lane's port cathead, whereby an anchor was 
let go, and ran out fifteen fathom of chain attached. 
The Harriet Lane was now at an anchor and also aground. 
Wainwright, from his position upon the bridge with 
Third Assistant Engineer Mullen by his side, ordered the 
\ crew forward upon the forecastle ready to repel boarders. 
As the Bayou City struck a glancing blow in passing, about 
twenty of her men jumped for the forecastle deck. Many 
I fell into the water, and those that reached the deck were 
met by sailors armed with pistols, cutlasses and boarding 
t pikes, to be hurled overboard. One colored sailor, Nick 
I' Wheeler, caught a man upon a pike, which entered his body 
j near the stomach and came out between his shoulders, and 
had to shake him off into the water. All this occupied 
very few minutes. 

As the Bayou City passed to shoal water off in the 

harbor beyond the channel, with her outside planking of 

port wheel-house and sides torn off from contact with the 

Lane's strong upper works, her men from behind cotton 

bales opened a scattering musketry-fire upon the blue- 

\ jackets. The blue-jackets trained a gun upon her, and at 

f a favorable moment Acting Master Hamilton pulled the 

lanyard, which broke ; he reached for a hatchet that had 

I lain beside the gun-carriage a few moments before, intend- 

|. ing to strike the percussion-cap to fire the gun, but it was 

'. gone ; some one had seized that hatchet for a weapon 

j* when Wainwright called for boarders to be repelled. 

It was then thought she would be taken in hand by 



I02 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Other naval vessels, and attention was given to the Nep- 
tune^ that came up immediately afterwards and struck the 
Harriet Lane upon the starboard (or right) side, intending 
to board, but did not succeed, and passed by, her men 
firing from their rifles. At this time Commander Wain- 
wright was killed upon the bridge where he had remained 
a mark for the enemy, paying no attention to suggestions 
from his officers not to ex|3^se himself. He received one 
ball in the forehead, that went out back of his head, and 
four balls in the body. Lieutenant Lea was also mortally 
wounded in the abdomen and carried below, and Acting 
Master Hamilton was wounded in the arm. Fire was 
returned by the Lane's crew as fast as they could load 
their small-arms. 

The Neptune passed astern, turned, and came back 
making for the port side, with a brisk musketry-fire main- 
tained by her men, when a shot or shell from one of the 
LaJie's nine-inch port guns, fired by Engineer Mullen (who 
broke the lanyard on the first pull, quickly tied it together 
and tried a second time with success), smashed the Nep- 
tune's bow, causing her to take water fast. She got on t 
the channel's edge, and soon sank in about eight feet o: 
water. Many of her men jumped overboard to reac 
land, and for a time the Confederate riflemen on shore 
opened a fire upon their own men escaping from one of 
their own vessels. 

When it was seen that the Neptune was out of the fight 
a round of cheers went up on board the LLarriet Lane, and 
her men threw their caps in the air with joy, supposing all 
was ended. But the vessels below had not attended to 
the Bayou City^ and she had rounded and again approached 
the Lane^ swung diagonally across the channel, aground, 
with her anchor out, for sufficient time had not elapsed to 
remedy either mishap. As she came along evidently in- 



I 



1 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 03 

tending to board, the pivot gun forward was trained upon 
her and fired; the shot struck her wheel-house without 
inflicting any perceptible damage, and before another gun 
could be brought to bear she struck the Lane abaft the 
port wheel-house, running her bow so far under the gun- 
wale and wheel that both vessels were s.tuck fast. 

After a short exchange of shots with small-arms the 
enemy, headed by Major Leon Smith, Colonel Tom Green 
and Captain Martin, commenced to jump into the boarding 
nettings that were up in place, cutting them apart with 
their long knives. They got aboard in three places, on the 
wheel-house and aft; met with a gallant resistance by the 
La7ies crew, who fought upon deck until driven under the 
gangway, forecastle and hurricane decks by superior num- 
bers, where they still kept it up, and hurled at the enemy 
their pistols, boarding pikes, and whatever they could find 
suitable for such a purpose after their small-arm ammu- 
nition had been expended. 

No formal surrender of the Harriet Lane was made, and 
no man can tell just when her capture could be considered 
complete. It is said that her pennant was hauled down 
by James Dowland, Jr., clerk to Captain Wharton, assistant 
quartermaster, and it is a settled fact, the claim made by 
Major Leon Smith that he killed with his own hands Com- 
mander Wainwright is not true, and could not be, as 
Wainwright was dead some time before. 

Why the casualties upon the LLarriet Lane and Bayoic 
City were so light as they proved to be, is one of those 
rare circumstances impossible to explain. While it lasted 
the fighting had been of a desperate character on both 
sides ; shot and dangerous missives of destruction flew in 
all directions. Upon a comparison of notes afterwards, 
officers of both sides considered it a miracle so few were 
seriously injured. Many men suffered from bruises and 



I04 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

light wounds, easily healed, who are not mentioned in the 
official report of killed and wounded. 

Like their companions on shore the Confederates upon 
the Bayou City were without discipline, and for a time 
after they had obtained control of the Harriet Lane her 
officers and crew were in danger of being shot down in 
cold blood. Sailing Master Munroe, as he came down 
from the hurricane-deck to surrender, had a shot-gun 
levelled at him, and was shot in the face by a drunken 
Confederate loafer. He could not be called a soldier, for 
soldiers do not act in such a cowardly manner. This 
loafer met his deserved punishment then and there, by 
being instantly shot through the head by Engineer 
Mullen. 

Among the Lane's crew were several colored sailors who 
fought nobly; and little Robert Cummings, a second-class 
white boy, with two revolvers in his hands danced about 
the deck, continually yelling at the top of his voice and 
sending a shot at the enemy every opportunity he got, full 
of fight as any man aboard. 

Beside the crew, made prisoners, were the following offi- 
cers : Commander Wainwright, killed ; Lieutenant-Com- 
mander Edward Lea, mortally wounded in bowels; Acting 
Master Charles H. Hamilton, wounded in arm ; Acting 
Master Josiah A. Hannum ; Acting Master W. F. Munroe, 
seriously wounded ; Second Assistant Engineers M. H. 
Plunkett (in charge) and Charles H. Stone ; Third 
Assistant Engineers A. T. E. Mullen, Robert N. Ellis 
and John E. Cooper ; Assistant Surgeon Thomas N. 
Penroes ; Paymaster R. Julius Richardson. 

When it was seen that the Harriet Lane had been cap- 
tured, the Clifton and Owasco tried to get near enough to 
so disable her as to be unfitted for use to the enemy. One 
of the eleven-inch shells, fired while on the way, struck close 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I05 

to her stern-post, and opened a hole in her hull large 
enough for a man to walk in. When this shell from the 
Owasco went into the stern, Paymaster Richardson was 
about to open his stateroom door to obtain his watch. 
The entire shell passed crashing through his room, while 
he was turning the door handle ; a moment sooner and he 
would have been killed or wounded. 

The Confederates then placed the captured officers upon 
the hurricane-deck, with a threat to shoot them down if 
another gun was fired by the Owasco, an act of barbarism 
they would have carried out in their state of excitement. 
The Owasco got too close and within easy range of the 
Confederate riflemen, who fired a volley that killed and 
wounded several of the crew, including every man serving 
the rifled gun. In consequence of this loss, all of her 
guns could not afterwards be manned. The gunboats 
were short of a full complement of men ; none of them 
could suffer much loss without being seriously crippled. 

None of the Confederate steamers were a match for any 
United States vessel present. They were considered mere 
playthings by naval officers, upon which an officer of sound 
judgment and discretion would not have risked his life or 
reputation in attacking the Federal navy. An ordinary 
man-of-war steam launch, armed with a light bow gun, 
could have coped successfully with them. They took the 
chances, and by nothing but good luck were saved from 
an ignominious defeat. Look and see how this luck 
favored them : first, the Harriet La?ie should not have 
been placed where she was, while two other vessels were 
present who could have been more easily handled at this 
point of the channel; second, she ran aground when 
on the verge of ramming the Bayou City, and that steamer 
barely had time to save herself; third, the gun missing 
fire that Hamilton had trained upon the Bayou City, which 



Io6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

undoubtedly would have sent that steamer where the Nep- 
tunewent. Everything favored the Confederates at critical 
moments during the engagement, and they had nothing 
to brag about, except good fortune, for their dare-devil 
bravery. 

After the volley had been fired the Owasco fell back, 
opening fire upon the city. In passing Kuhn's Wharf, 
within thirty feet, she was hailed by Colonel Burrell, to 
take his men off. This request was heard on board, but 
no response given. The Owasco kept on. 

The Bayou City and Harriet La?ie, entangled and 
aground, disabled for any service they could render in 
this fight, with the Neptune sunk, were at the mercy of the 
Federal vessels if they acted promptly. The Lucy Govirn 
z-ndjohn F. Gxrr remained out of danger. In this emer- 
gency Major Leon Smith ordered a white flag run up at 
8 A. M., and adopted bluff tactics. Captain Lubbock was 
sent on board the Clifton and Oivasco to demand an imme- 
diate surrender of the fleet. This demand was made of 
Lieutenant-Commander Law, who asked what terms of 
surrender were offered, and received for a reply '' that he 
would be allowed a ship to remove his people, the balance 
of the public property to be surrendered." Law was also 
informed by Captain Lubbock, that Wainwright and Lea 
were killed, with two-thirds of the crew killed and wounded, 
a statement Acting Master Hannum, who was with Lub- 
bock, confirmed. The truth was, only ten out of a crew 
of one hundred and twenty men were seriously injured. 
Hannum had lost his head and did not know what he 
was about. 

Commander Law asked for three hours' time to consult 
with Commander Renshaw, still aground near Pelican 
Spit, and a three hours' truce was then agreed upon at 
about eight o'clock. Law proposed to go with his vessel, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I07 

but Lubbock insisted he should go in his gig, anchoring 
the Clifton exactly where she was until the truce was over. 
Law thought it was rather rough, but agreed. The senior 
officer of the Harriet La7ie fit for duty. Acting Master 
Hannum, was allowed to go with Law, on his parole of 
honor to return. All of the gunboats then displayed 
white flags. 

Renshaw refused to accede to the Confederate prop- 
osition, and ordered Law to get every vessel out of port 
with despatch while he blew up the Wesifield, as all 
attempts to float her had failed. 

Not receiving any communication from the navy, and at 
a loss to understand what was going on, while the Clifton 
and Owasco had dropped down the channel far enough to 
be out of direct range of the enemy's desultory musketry- 
iire which was kept up on the troops upon the wharf, 
Colonel Burrell ordered Corporal Henry W. Mcintosh, 
Company D, to stand up upon the breastwork, with 
a piece of sail-cloth attached to an oar-blade. Several 
handkerchiefs were also attached to bayonets and raised 
in the air. 

Corporal Mcintosh was fired at several times, the bullets 
whizzing very close, before the truce flag was acknowl- 
edged. General Magruder afterwards apologized for this 
breach of the usages of war, explaining the difficulty of 
managing the unruly men that formed his command, and 
the personal exertions made by himself and stafT-officers 
to stop the firing. Magruder was called to account, for 
this action of his men, by the Confederate War Depart- 
ment at Richmond. He had a personal interview with 
Colonel Burrell, while a prisoner at Houston, and produced 
an order calling upon him to report forthwith to the War 
Department, and requested a signed document from the 
colonel stating the facts. 



Io8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

A cessation of hostilities for half an hour was asked, 
for the express purpose of communicating with the fleet. 
This was granted with the understanding that only one 
man was to leave the wharf. The intention of Colonel 
Burrell was to prevail upon the naval commander to send 
a gunboat to the wharf, embark his men at the expiration 
of the half-hour, and assist the navy with his men if the 
fight was to continue. No idea of a surrender entered his 
head at this time. 

Selecting Adjutant Davis to see the naval commander, 
a difficulty presented itself in obtaining a boat, as the one 
held at the wharf was sunk. The Confederates had man- 
aged quietly to remove from the neighborhood all of the 
row-boats without attracting any attention. Fortunately 
two refugees just then passed towards the gunboats, were 
hailed, ordered to the wharf, and took the adjutant into 
their boat, proceeding towards the CHfto7i. While on the 
way a row-boat, containing some Confederate officers and 
flying a flag of truce, tried to overtake them. One of the 
officers ordered them to stop, when the adjutant shouted : 

"I will see you d d first," and with his revolver in 

hand ordered the refugees to row for all they were worth 
to the Owasco, the nearest vessel, fearing some treachery. 

On reaching the Owasco he found that Commander 
Law, the ranking officer, had gone to see Renshaw. 
Commander Wilson refused to do anything until Law's 
return, as the truce flags were up. No amount of entreaty 
was of avail. Wilson's attention was called to the fact 
that the Confederates on shore had again manned their 
guns and moved others into position, even while truce 
flags were up on shore — a violation of the truce on their 
part. It was of no use. Adjutant Davis had to remain 
until Commander Law should return. 

The time agreed upon for cessation of hostilities expired. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



09 



The Confederates had replaced their artillery in favorable 
positions to fully command the wharf. No reply had been 
received to the request sent the naval commander, and the 
naval vessels had left the troops without protection. Thus 
abandoned by his only support, not a sign of succor from 
any source, his position completely at the mercy of the 
enemy's artillery, with riflemen posted in commanding 
and covered places, when the Confederate truce flag came 
to the wharf, at the expiration of the time agreed upon. 
Colonel Burrell proceeded to meet it. After a discussion 
of terms of surrender, it was agreed that upon an uncon- 
ditional surrender the officers and men were to retain all 
of their personal effects and all private baggage. Only 
property of the United States, except knapsacks, haver- 
sacks and canteens, was to be delivered up. The very 
best terms the enemy would concede. 

Colonel Burrell then offered General Scurry his sword, 
which that officer refused, saying : " Keep your sword 
colonel, a man's done what you have deserves to wear it." 
The Confederate troops came down yelling like mad 
people when the surrender was completed, and soon 
swarmed upon the wharf. When Major-General Magruder, 
in a gorgeous uniform, met Colonel Burrell, he remarked : 
"Don't be cast down colonel, it is the fortune of war; you 
will soon be paroled." On his appearance upon the 
wharf, Surgeon Cummings courteously offered him a glass 
of whiskey, but Magruder declined with thanks. The 
numerous "colonels" and "majors," who seemed to be 
thick as bees, %ere not so backward, for they sampled 
a case of fine liquors, the private property of the officers, 
in such a manner that it was never seen afterwards. 

To their anxious inquiries about the killed and wounded, 
when informed none were killed with but few wounded 
they expressed great surprise, expecting to find a heavy 



no HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

loss had been sustained. Magruder remarked that they 
would probably never again be subjected to such a heavy 
fire and suffer so small a loss. 

An inspection of the breastwork disclosed that it was 
marked in hundreds of places by bullets, while the store- 
house looked like a sieve. The officers occupied quarters 
in the storehouse on and after the twenty-ninth. Previous 
to this time they had lived aboard the Saxon, while she 
lay at the wharf. The enlisted men were in the building. 
Some cooking was done on the Saxon at the cooking-range ; 
but stoves having been procured on the twenty-seventh 
they were set up, but not fully protected so as to prevent 
setting fire to the building until the thirty-first, when they 
were ready for use. A pot of beans was being baked in 
one of the stoves for the officers, who expected next day 
to have a royal meal ; a shot cut the stove funnel in two ; 
the stove sustained no damage ; the next day Confederates 
enjoyed that royal meal with the savory dish of New 
England. 

The regimental flags were placed in the barracks 
between two heavy beams. Lieutenant Cowdin received 
instructions, when landing, to keep a sharp eye on the 
colors, and in no event allow them to be lost. Why 
Lieutenant Cowdin at this period did not think of some 
way in which to avoid their capture is excusable only on 
the ground that he was severely wounded in the back and 
under the surgeon's care. Why other ofiicers, or men, did 
not arrange to save them is a puzzle. To be sure it was 
a time of intense anxiety and excitement^ but the colors 
should not have been forgotten. It was an easy matter 
to take them from the staffs and either placed in some- 
body's knapsack or have been wound around the body of 
some man, under his clothing, and the staffs destroyed, or, 
what would have been better, the fla^s could have been 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. Ill 

torn into pieces and distributed amongst the men for 
keepsakes. The enemy did not know so small a force 
had colors with them until they were found after the 
action. 

Confederate Major Shannon, who had been a prisoner of 
war in the Federal hands and received kind treatment, as 
a mark of his gratitude for that treatment, asked for and 
received permission to take care of private baggage of the 
command, and prevent unruly men of Magruder's force 
from despoiling it. This was not an easy matter to do, 
but the major succeeded in his purpose ; the baggage was 
properly delivered in a few days to the prisoners at 
Houston. The officers' swords were passed over to the 
provost-marshal at Houston, properly marked, to be re- 
turned when the owners were paroled or exchanged. 
They never were seen again. 

About nine o'clock arms had been stacked, knapsacks 
slung, and the Forty-Second detachment marched from 
the wharf, passing between lines of General Magruder's 
force drawn up in the streets of Galveston, and proceeded 
to some empty houses in the suburbs, where the men 
remained until one o'clock in the afternoon. The cap- 
tured crew of the Harriet Lane joined them during the 
forenoon. 

As the troops marched from the wharf Commander 
Law returned. When Adjutant Davis asked him what 
was going to be done, he replied : " The Harriet Lane is 
captured, Wainwright dead, and the fleet will proceed to 
sea immediately." Orders were sent to the little schooner 
Corypheiis for the captain to scuttle her and take his men 
on board some of the remaining vessels ; but he asked 
permission to set sail, and did so, saving her. With truce 
flags flying, the gunboats proceeded to sea. The Clifton 
lead, followed by the Owasco, then the Corypheus^ and last 



112 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

was the Sachem^ whose commander, by diligent work 
during the action, had patched up her boilers and got 
steam started. 

Renshaw sent the Westfield's crew on board transports 
Saxon and Mary Boardman, and a slow-match was applied 
to a train of powder leading to her magazine. As no 
explosion took place at the expected time, he went back 
in a row-boat with Lieutenant Zimmerman, Engineer 
Green, two quartermasters, four firemen and five sailors. 
As Renshaw was about coming over her side into the row- 
boat again, a premature explosion took place. The 
Westfield fell to pieces, and not a vestige of the boat's 
occupants was ever seen again. This was about ten 
o'clock A.M. Her guns were afterwards recovered by the 
enemy, and placed in battery to protect the harbor from 
another visit by Federal vessels. News of Renshaw's 
death reached Law when the Clifton was half-way towards 
the bar, placing him in command of the navy, and that 
officer concluded to proceed at once to New Orleans, 
abandoning the blockade from fear of an attack by the 
Harriet Lane, although an officer on board the Mary 
Boardman informed him another transport-vessel would 
be down in forty-eight hours, and ought to be warned. In 
the race for New Orleans the Alary Boardmaji reached 
the city first, followed next day by the Clifton^ and after- 
wards the Saxon and Honduras. 

The following account of how the Westfield was 
destroyed is taken from a letter written by William L. 
Burt, aide-de-camp to General Hamilton, to Major-General 
Banks. Major Burt was on board transport Mary A. 
Boardman^ lying at anchor near the flag-ship Westfield : 
"Captain Law had an interview with Commander Renshaw. 
Our vessel, the Mary Boardman, was then alongside the 
Westfield^ having endeavored to haul her off. As soon as 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. II3 

Captain Law left for his own vessel Commander Renshaw 
sent an officer to us saying, that he was going to blow up 
the Westjield, and requesting us to assist in taking off her 
men and whatever could be saved. I remonstrated with 
this officer, that it was unnecessary, and that the whole 
force could lie by and protect the Westjield until the tide 
turned (which was then running out), when she would float, 
and we could save her, and as she was heavily armed and 
of light draught she was invaluable. I also requested 
the commander to come on board. This remonstrance 
was repeated to every officer that came to my vessel with 
men. We received on board the men and their baggage, 
with property of the ship, until our decks would hold no 
more, and the rest was placed on the transport Saxon. 

" At about ten a.m., while the commander's boat and 
crew and second cutter and crew were at the Westjield to 
receive the last men, the commander, having poured 
turpentine over the forward magazine and just over where 
she was aground, set her on fire with his own hand. He 
stepped down into his boat, in which were Lieutenant 
Zimmerman, Chief-Engineer Green, and tv/o oarsmen. The 
magazine immediately exploded, tearing the bow of the 
vessel open and blowing her to pieces to the water's edge 
and back to the smoke-stack. After the explosion no living 
thing could be seen. She did not sink, being aground ; 
her guns aft, which were double-shotted and run out, as 
the flames should reach them, threatene*d us, at the short 
distance we were from her, with destruction, which might 
have been foreseen when she was fired. 

"Acting Sailing-Master Smalley took charge of us as 
pilot, and we started for the bar. It was evident that 
we could not get over with what we had on board, and 
we threw overboard everything on deck except what 
belonged to the men of the Westjield. We went over 



114 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the bar, striking very heavily, followed by the Saxon, 
two small schooners, the Clifton, Owasco and Sachem, 
gunboats, leavmg the Harriet Lane in the hands of the 
rebels, with two barks loaded with coal, and one small 
schooner." 

The behavior of Colonel Burrell is spoken of in the 
highest terms by officers and men who were under him. 
He walked the wharf during the entire time the action 
continued, with shot and shell flying around in unpleasant 
proximity. While risking his own life in this manner, in 
order to be able to observe all that was taking place, he 
kept his men under shelter as much as possible. They 
rose to their feet from behind the breastwork only when 
ready to fire on the enemy. 

All of the officers are entitled to credit for their gallant 
conduct under the trying circumstances of this their first 
fight. Gallant Captain Sherive especially showed marked 
courage and bravery. 

The men, as a whole, behaved like veterans ; not that 
there was no quivering — there was ; but no display of 
childish fear took place. Every order given was obeyed 
with marked promptitude, and in such a manner to show 
that they stood to their duty like men. 

Many comical incidents happened during the engage- 
ment, and if all could be remembered they would make a 
respectable-sized chapter. A few, that the men often 
talked and laughed about, are here given : Frank Veazie, 
officers' cook, during the hot firing, kept up a promenade 
inside the storehouse with his coat collar up and bent 
over as if rain was falling upon him. Private Billy Burt, 
Company D, when all hands were crowded for shelter 
near the breastwork, during the first hour, shouted : " For 
God's sake, get where the sergeants are and we will be 
safe ! " The quartermaster's colored boy, Charlie Amos, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. II5 

:ell asleep early in the evening, sleeping through all the 
jproar, and did not awake until it was^Dver. 

The loss by the United States naval squadron was : 

Clifto7i — One wounded. 

Owasco — One killed; fifteen wounded, including Com- 
nander Wilson. 

Harriet La7ie — Five killed; five wounded; exclusive of 
Dfiicers, one hundred and ten sailors were made prisoners. 

Westfield — Fourteen killed. 

The Confederate loss is hard to ascertain. From the 
:haracter of their raw volunteers many men slightly 
ivounded must have never been reported, besides, their 
idministration department was too loose for an exact 
official report of casualties. While not so heavy as would 
3e supposed from the naval cannonade of the city, it is 
officially reported by General Magruder to have been 
ibout twenty-six killed and one hundred and seventeen 
ivounded, but Surgeon Cummings, who had excellent 
opportunities for knowing, places it at about three hundred 
iilled and wounded.* A part of the Confederate loss was 
known at the time to be as follows : 

Colonel Pyron's regiment — Two killed; six wounded. 

Captain Wilson's battery killed; four wounded. 

On steamer Bayou City — Five killed ; two wounded. 

On steamer Neptime — Seven killed ; twenty-eight 
wounded. 

Among the Confederate officers placed hors-de-combat 
were : 

Surgeon Fisher, Colonel Cook's regiment, killed. 

Captain Weir, Company B, Texas artillery, killed on 
Bayou City. 

* Andrew Parish, a lad of fourteen or fifteen years, Magruder's colored servant, 
who was with the general in Virginia and Texas, says he saw at Galveston from fifty 
to seventy-five Confederate dead after the action was over. With the usual propor- 
:ion of wounded to killed, Mr. Parish almost corroborates Surgeon Cummings. 



Il6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Lieutenant Sidney W. Sherman, Texas artillery^ 
killed. 

Lieutenant Harvey Clark, Colonel Cook's regiment^ 
mortally wounded. 

Major Dickinson, wounded in eye badly. 

Major A. M. Lea, C. S. engineers, wounded. 

Captain Schneider, slightly wounded. 

Lieutenant Madden, slightly wounded. 

Captain McMahan, slightly wounded. 

Property captured by the enemy was as follows : the 
Harriet Lane with her fine battery, the guns on the 
Westjield, three sailing vessels loaded with coal, viz., 
Arthur, Cavallo and Elias Pike — these vessels were said 
to have been burned by the navy, or set on fire — one set 
regimental colors, one garrison flag, arms and ammunition, 
tents, intrenching tools, commissary supplies, and quarter- 
master stores of clothing, etc., etc., that the detachment 
carried to Galveston. 

The garrison flag was afterwards found upon a Confed- 
erate Texan soldier, made prisoner at Thibodeaux by 
Lieutenant Alf. Halstead, Company K, One Hundred and 
Seventy-Sixth New York Lifantry, on the twenty-third 
June, 1863, a few days after the action at La-Fourche 
Crossing, in which a detachment of the Forty-Second 
Regiment took part. This soldier had got possession of 
the flag, and carefully preserved it. By request of Lieu- 
tenant Halstead the flag was forwarded to Governor John 
A. Andrew, to be placed among other State vtementos of 
the war. 

On the day of surrender the following vessels, with 
reenforcements and military stores, were on the way to 
Galveston. Had the action been delayed one week quite 
a respectable military force would have been assembled 
upon the island. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. II7 

Transport steamer Cambria^ with Governor Hamilton 
and troops. 

Transport steamer Honduras, with detachment First 
Vermont Battery, Captain Hibbard. 

Transport steamer Charles Osgood, with two companies 
Forty-Second Regiment. 

Transport steamer Che-Kiang, with three companies 
Forty-Second Regiment, one company Texas cavalry, and 
a number of Texas refugees. 

The Honduras and Charles Osgood were spoken in the 
Gulf by gunboat Cliftofi, and returned to New Orleans. 
The Che-Kiang lay at the United States Barracks below 
New Orleans January 3d, ready to proceed the next day, 
when the news was telegraphed from the Passes, and her 
orders were countermanded. The Cambria arrived off 
Galveston January 2d, and was fortunate to escape capture 
from well-laid plans of General Magruder. 

The following accounts were given by Sergeant Nichols, 
Company G, Forty-Second Regiment, and by Purser Bach, 
steamer Cambria, before it was known what steps were 
taken by the Confederates to catch the transport steamer : 

STATEMENT OF SERGEANT NICHOLS. 

"The Cambria, Captain Sumner, arrived off Galveston 
Bar at three o'clock p.m. January 2d. On board were 
three hundred men First Texas Cavalry, Colonel Davis, 
recruited in New Orleans from Texas refugees, and equip- 
ments for a full cavalry regiment ; a detachment First 
Vermont Battery with guns ; Sergeants Nichols, Vialle, 
Attwell, and Private Greene, all of Company G, Forty- 
Second Regiment, en route to join their company. A 
small brass cannon on deck was fired several times to 
signal a pilot and notify the navy, without attracting atten- 



Il8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

tion. Several refugees, ' Nicaragua ' Smith, Foley, big 
'Jack' and others, volunteered and went in a row-boat to 
d notify the fleet. As his volunteers did not return. Captain 
Sumner remained off the bar until morning without suspi- 
cion of any danger. About ten o'clock a.m. next day a 
sloop, pilot flag up, with three or four men aboard, 
approached and made an attempt to entice the steamer on 
the bar, reporting she could follow, and they would take 
soundings. There was ten and one-half feet of water on 
the bar, and the Cambria drew eleven feet. Not one of 
the men would come on board. After some talk Captain 
Sumner became suspicious, and, in a loud voice, ordered : 
' Men, stand by the ports ! ' although the steamer was not 
armed. Just then a few refugees on board recognized 
Confederate Captain Payne on the sloop, told Sumner of 
the fact, who ordered him to come on board the Cambria 
or the sloop would be blown to pieces. Captain Payne 
came aboard, and, in answer to questions, said. Captain 
Wainwright was in command of the fleet, with several 
other false stories, playing his part well until he, in turn, 
recognized several faces on board. He then knew he was 
trapped, and said : ' The game is up, I am lying ; the 
Confederates are in possession of the city and harbor.' 
The whole story of what had occurred was then told, 
including a tale of the capture of Smith and his comrades. 
Payne reported that the Harriet Lane was about ready to 
come out after the Cambria, so Captain Sumner allowed 
the other men on the sloop to get away, while he made 
haste to reach New Orleans. This Captain Payne was 
placed in confinement on a war-vessel at New Orleans. 
He was afterwards seen on the streets of that city 
apparently a free man." 

" Nicaragua " Smith was tried by a court-martial, declared 
a traitor, and shot January 8th, game to the last. Six 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. II9 

balls entered his body. A characteristic speech made by 
him when face to face with the firing party would not bear 
repetition here. Two of his comrades escaped, but Foley 
and big "Jack" managed to be paroled when the enlisted 
men were sent to the Federal lines. 

STATEMENT OF PURSER BACH. 

"On Board Steamer Cambria, 

"January 7th, 1863. 
" Major-General Banks, 

"Commanding Department of the Gulf: 

"The steamer Cambria^ with two companies First Texas 
Cavalry, horses of the Second Vermont Battery, and a 
great number of men, women and children (refugees), left 
New Orleans for Galveston December 31st, 1862, at 9 p.m. 
Arrived outside the island January 2d, at 7 p.m. Strong 
wind and high sea running. No sign of pilot, con- 
sequently came to anchor. 

" Next morning, third instant, weather very hazy and 
high sea. We commenced beating about, in the hope of 
a pilot coming to uj, up to 12 m. No such success, during 
which time several of the refugees, being well acquainted 
with the bar, were desirous of piloting us in. The captain 
would not listen to any such suggestions. They then 
offered to take one of the life-boats and go for a' pilot, to 
which he also dissented ; but, upon the earnest solicita- 
tions of officers and refugees, amounting almost to a 
demand, he reluctantly consented, and the boat left, 
manned by six men, two of whom were soldiers and four 
refugees. This was about 12.30 p.i\i. The colonel sent a 
pressing letter to the officer in command, stating that we 
were in distress, the horses on board suffering from the 
rough weather, and demanding assistance. 



I20 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

"About 7 P.M. the weather cleared to bright moonlight; 
sea more calm. The boat did not return, and hopes for 
her safety were given up, as it was supposed she might 
have swamped in crossing the bar. At this time three 
shells were plainly visible as having been fired from near 
the city, which was the first cause of uneasiness on the 
part of our captain. On the supposed warning the 
colonel had his men called together and put in readiness 
in case of emergency. Nothing further transpired, how- 
ever, during the night. 

"The next morning the day broke clear, the sun shining 
bright, with the city and its surroundings in full view. 
We hoisted pilot-jack and blew the whistle about eight 
o'clock, which signal was answered by pilot-boat inside 
the bar, near a schooner, and a bark with American colors 
flying, which proved to be the bark Cavallo. After the 
boat came toward us she tacked, apparently running and 
sounding the bar. She then went toward the bark and 
lowered her jack, signifying that she had put the pilot on 
board. In the meantime the pilot-boat shot up alongside 
and asked : ' How much water do you draw, captain .'' ' 
To which he replied : ' Nine and a ha^ to ten feet.' The 
answer then was : ' You can go in ; there is plenty of 
water on the bar.' 'Are you a pilot?' was then demanded. 
Reply. — ' No, but you can follow us in.' Question. — 'Where 
is the pilot ? ' A?iswer. — ' On the bark.' Questio?t. — ' Why 
does he not come out for us ? ' Answer. — ' Because he had 
special orders to take the bark out first.' In the mean- 
time we separated some distance. Again the pilot-boat 
shot up alongside, when the captain ordered the pilot on 
board, when he replied : 'There are too many men there 
for me.' He then immediately hauled jib-sheet to wind- 
ward, slacked off the main-sheet, and put his helm hard to 
port, with the intention of getting clear. Seeing this, the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 121 

captain ordered the steamer backed, which placed the 
steamer between the pilot-boat and the bar. The captain 
then called out : ' Stand by your guns, fore and aft, and 
be ready to fire. Do not open your port-holes before the 
colonel gives the word.' The pilot-boat then came to, 
and the pilot said he would come on board. The colonel 
asked him who was in command. His immediate reply 
was : * Captain Wainwright.' After several unimportant 
questions and answers he was recognized and called by 
name by one of the refugees, by wdiich he was apparently 
confused and lost his presence of mind. Seeing that the 
captain looked upon him with marked suspicion, he said : 
^Gentlemen, I cannot lie any longer; GalVeston is in the 
hands of the Confederacy.' The captain, hearing that the 
Harriet Lane was in their hands and as she was reported 
uninjured, immediately put the steamer to sea. The 
counterfeit pilot, T. W. Paine, was, of course, detained on 
board as prisoner. The pilot-boat and crew were permitted 
to depart, as the colonel thought by their returning it 
would give us more time to escape. 

"About nine o'clock on the evening of the fifth instant 
we met the United States sloop-of-war Brooklyn^ and was 
boarded by an officer from her, to whom we gave the fore- 
going information. We afterward learned that the boat 
sent ashore with the six men was detained and the men 
taken prisoners. 

" Respectfully submitted, 

"LEWIS BACH, 
'•'' Acting- Purser Steamer Cambria^ 

What steps were taken to entrap the Catfibria, or any 
transports unlucky enough to arrive while the United 
States gunboats fled to New Orleans, is described by 
General Magruder in his official report of the action. He 



• 



122 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

says : "Having buried the dead, taken care of the wounded^ 
and secured the captured property, my exertions were 
directed to getting the Harriet Lane to sea. The enemy's 
ships fled to New Orleans, to which place one of their 
steam transports was dispatched during the action. I 
knew that a large naval force might be expected ta 
return in a few days. I therefore ordered the employment 
at high wages of all the available mechanics to repair the 
Harriet Lane, her main shaft having been dislocated and 
her iron wheel greatly disabled, so that the engine could 
not work. The United States flags were ordered to- 
remain flying on the custom-house and at the mast-heads, 
of the ships, so as to attract into the harbor any of the 
enemy's vessels which might be bound for the port of 
Galveston. A line of iron buoys, which we had established 
for the guidance of his ships in the harbor, were displaced 
and so arranged as to insure their getting aground. 

"On the third of January, I being then on board of 
the Harriet Lane, a yawl-boat, containing several men, in. 
command of a person named Thomas Smith, recently a 
citizen of Galveston, and who had deserted from our 
army, was reported alongside. He informed me he was. 
sent from the United States transport-steamship Cambria,. 
then off the bar, for a pilot, and that they had no idea of 
the occupation of the city by us. I forthwith ordered a 
pilot-boat, under command of Captain Johnson, to bring 
in this ship, but, through a most extraordinary combina- 
tion of circumstances, the vessel which contained E. J. 
Davis and many other apostate Texans, besides several 
hundred troops and 2,500 saddles for the use of native 
sympathizers, succeeded in making her escape. The man 
Smith, who had, it is said, several times set fire to the 
city of Galveston before he deserted, had been known as 
Nicaragua Smith, and was dreaded by every one. He 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 23 

returned to Galveston in order to act as Federal provost- 
marshal. His arrival produced much excitement, during 
which some one without orders sent a sail-boat to Pelican 
Spit, now occupied by our troops, to direct the command- 
ing officer there not fire on our pilot-boat, although she 
was under Yankee colors. The sail-boat thus sent was at 
once supposed to be destined for the Yankee transport. 
The pilot-boat gave chase to her, and the guns from the 
shore opened on her within hearing of the ship. 

" Night coming on, I thought it surer, as the alarm 
might be taken, to capture her at sea before morning; 
but the Harriet La?ie could not move, and our cotton 
gunboats could not live on the rough sea on the bar. 
Therefore one of the barks, the Royal Yacht, a schooner 
of ours, the pilot-boat and the Leader^ a schooner loaded 
with cotton, which I had ordered to be sent to a foreign 
port, with a proclamation of the raising of the blockade 
at Galveston, were directed to be prepared and armed 
with light 'artillery. This was done by two o'clock the 
same night, our little fleet being manned by volunteers, 
under the command of Captain Mason, of Cook's re;gi- 
ment of artillery. 

" Unfortunately the wind lulled, and none but the 
pilot-boat could reach the enemy^s ship. The pilot-boat 
went out under the command of a gallant sailor, Captain 
Payne, of Galveston. The enemy's ship proved to be a 
splendid iron steamer, built in the Clyde. I had ascertained 
from her men taken ashore that she had only two guns, 
and they were packed on deck under a large quantity of 
hay, and I anticipated an easy conquest and one of great 
political importance, as this ship contained almost all the 
Texans out of the State who had proved recreant to their 
duty to the Confederacy and to Texas. The pilot-boat 
was allowed to get close to the ship, when the boat was 



124 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

hailed and the pilot ordered to come on board. Captain 
Payne answered that he thought there were rather too 
many men to trust himself to ; whereupon he was directed 
to come on board, or he would be fired into. He went on 
board as ordered, and soon after the steamer sailed in all 
haste seaward, leaving the pilot-boat and hands to return 
to us. 

" I am thus particular in this narration as the friends of 
Captain Payne fear that he may meet with foul play from 
the enemy. I shall ascertain, through Commodore Bell, 
Jiis fate, and act accordingly. Smith, the deserter, was 
tried regularly the next day before a general court-martial, 
and, being convicted of deserting to the enemy, was 
publicly shot in Galveston, in accordance with his sentence. 
The proceedings, which were formal in all respects, legal 
and regular, are forwarded." 

The following papers, connected with this action, are 
here given. The first, a dispatch from William L. Burt, 
was the first news sent North of the action, and naturally 
caused many a heart to ache for relatives and friends 
supposed to be at Galveston : 

" Southwest Pass, La., 

^'January 3d, 1863, 1.45 p.m. 
^' Major-General Banks : 

" I have received the following dispatch, which I hasten 
to communicate : 

*"0n Board Mary Boardman, 

'"January 3d, 1863, 12 noon. 
'' ' N. P. Banks, 

'* ' Commanding Department of the Gulf : 
" * Galveston was attacked by land and water on the 
morning of January ist. Colonel Burrell and his men 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 25. 

were all killed or taken prisoners. Four rebel rams made 
an attack on the Harriet Lane ^ and carried her by boarding.. 
Captain Wainwright and Lieutenant Lee killed, and all 
the men killed or prisoners. The captain of the Owasco 
(Wilson) was killed. Commander Renshaw blew up the 
flag-ship Westfield to prevent her from falling into the 
hands of the enemy. He was killed, and also First- 
Lieutenant Zimmerman. Two barks loaded with coal fell 
into the hands of the rebels. We have some seventy men 
from the Westfield on board. They must have some 
arrangements for taking charge of them immediately on 
our arrival, as we have only our own crew. 
" * Wm. L. Burt, 
" ^ Major and Aide- de- Camp, Staff of General Hamilton.'' 

"C. HUGGINS." 

General Banks, in a letter to Major-General Halleck, 
gives as his reason for sending Colonel Burrell to 
Galveston, the following : 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

"New Orleans, La., January yth, 1863. 
{Extract^ 
^^Sir : The detachment of troops w^as sent to Galveston 
upon the suggestion of Admiral Farragut, and upon the 
statement of General Butler, that he had contemplated 
ordering a small force there to assist in recruiting Texas 
refugees. It was supposed that the fleet made the occupa- 
tion of the part of the island adjacent to the gunboats 
perfectly secure. It would not, however, have been sent 
forward so soon after my arrival had it not been for the 
impatience of General Hamilton. When it became known 
that our destination was New Orleans and not Texas, 
which was not until our arrival here, those connected with 



126 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

him became very violent, and denounced unsparingly the 
Government and all connected with the expedition for 
what was called bad faith in its management. 

" General Hamilton is not a bad man, but he does not 
manifest great force of character, and is surrounded by 
men who came here on the Government transports, unbe- 
known to me, for base, speculative purposes, and nothing 
else. I notified him of the conduct of these men, and he 
promised to correct it, but has not yet done so. He 
explains their presence by saying, that in the North he 
became indebted to them for pecuniary assistance. I sent 
him notice that they would be required to leave the 
Department if their course was approved by him. 

"It was mainly the impatience of these people that 
prompted me to forward the detachment to Galveston ; 
but only upon the concurrence of Admiral Farragut and 
General Butler as to its expediency and safety. Such is a 
full statement of my participation in this affair. 

"I have the honor to be, with much respect, 
''your obedient servant, 
N. P. BANKS, 

^^ Major- General commanding. 
'' Major-General Halleck, 

" Commander-in-Chief U. S. ArmyT 

The flag-of-truce scheme, so fortunately put into use by 
Major Smith, led to some correspondence on the subject 
between General Magruder and Commodore Bell, com- 
manding United States forces off Galveston. None of 
this correspondence is of material interest to the Forty- 
Second Regiment, except the following extract from a 
letter by Colonel Debray to Commodore Bell, January 22d, 
viz.: "As to your complaint of a breach of truce in 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 27 

connection with the Forty-Second Massachusetts, I would 
respectfully state that the land troops were not embraced 
in the terms of truce on the ist instant, either directly or 
indirectly. As soon as daylight came they could have 
been destroyed by our guns and musketry in five minutes. 
To avert a misunderstanding on this subject with you, 
which Major-General Magruder would much regret, he will 
send a full statement by to-morrow morning." 

The full statement of Magruder to Bell is embraced in 
the following papers sent to the Confederate War Depart- 
ment in Richmond, Va., by Major-General Magruder, in 
justification of himself. It is proper to state that the 
statement signed by Colonel Burrell, was drafted after a 
long consultation between his officers, and, while not 
correct in every respect, the officers felt under obligations 
to Generals Magruder and Scurry, for favors granted and 
expected, and were disposed to help Magruder out of his 
muddle with the Confederate War Department. The 
documents were : 

''The following document is not to be considered or used 
as official in any way, but as strictly personal. 
" ISAAC S. BURRELL, 

" Colonel 42 d Regt. Mass. Vols. 

'"''Statement i?i relation to the surrender of a portion of the 
Forty-Seco7id Regiment^ Massachusetts Volunteers^ at 
Galveston^ Texas ^ on the mornifig of January ist, A.D. 
186 J, to the Cofifederate forces under the C077i?nand of 
Major- Ge?ieral J. B. Magruder^ with the circumstances 
attending the surrender : 

" After the steamer Harriet X-<^?ie had raised the white 
flag in token of surrender, the white flag was also raised 
by the Forty-Second Regiment by order of the colonel 



128 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

commanding; but the fire continuing for ten or fifteen 
minutes from the wharf^ and the brick building above 
Kuhn's Wharf, where the said Forty-Second Regiment was 
stationed, when Brigadier-General Scurry came down to 
Kuhn's Wharf and demanded the unconditional surrender 
of the troops on the wharf the firing ceased and was not 
resumed so far as the wharf is concerned. 

"The surrender was made immediately, and the battle 
terminated, so far as said Forty-Second Regiment was 
concerned. Between the time the white flag was raised on 
the wharf and the cessation of the firing only one man 
was wounded and none killed. 

"This statement is made in justice to Brigadier-General 
Scurry, who, by his gentlemanly conduct and uniform 
kindness to officers and privates, is entitled to the grateful 
remembrance of the whole' command. We believe that 
the firing after the white flag was raised was unknown to 
him and against his will or orders.' 

" The flag of truce was not raised on the wharf by the 
Forty- Second Regiment until every vessel in the harbor 
had raised one. 

" When the demand for surrender was made by Brigadier- 
General Scurry, the colonel of the Forty-Second Regiment 
asked to be allowed the same time given to the fleet for 
consideration (three hours), but his request was refused. 

" Having carefully examined the above statement, I 
believe it to be true in every point, and accordingly I have 
affixed my signature thereto. 

"ISAAC S. BURRELL, 

" Colonel 42d Regt. Mass. Vols.'' 

this was enclosed in a letter sent to Richmond, Va., 
by General Magruder, of which the following is an 
extract : 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



29 



''Houston, Texas, January 23c], 1863. 
" This statement made by Colonel Burrell, commanding 
the detachment of the Forty-Second Massachusetts Regi- 
ment Volunteers, captured at Galveston on the ist instant, 
it will be seen agrees in every important particular with 
the statement furnished by me in my communication to 
Commodore Bell. Our naval officers distinctly state that 
the white flag hoisted on board the ship did not apply to 
the land force. Captain Lubbock, the commander of one 
of our gunboats, who arranged with the senior officer in 
command of the Federal fleet the terms of the truce, 
stated, on his return from the Federal flag-ship, to Brigadier- 
General Scurry, in the presence of Colonel Burrell, that 
the land troops were not embraced in these terms, directly 
or indirectly, he having been sent by Captain Leon Smith, 
commanding our fleet of gunboats, to demand the sur- 
render of the rest of the Federal fleet, and to give the 
Federal commander three hours' time to accept or decline 
his demand, during which time the fire was to cease 
between the ships. I knew nothing of the arrangements, 
nor did any officer ashore, and when Captain Lubbock, on 
his return, touched at Kuhn's Wharf, where the Forty- 
Second Massachusetts Regiment was stationed, he gave 
the above information to Brigadier-General Scurry in the 
presence of Colonel Burrell, and the latter surrendered un- 
conditionally, after his request to be allowed the same time 
given the ships was refused. Had the Federal commander 
of the land forces been in superior force to myself and 
engaged in battle ashore he would certainly have pros- 
ecuted his advantage to the utmost, regardless of a truce 
between two fleets, which he had not authorized. If 
necessary, I think it can be fully established also that 
the Federal troops ashore were ready to surrender the 
moment daylight gave them an opportunity of doing 



130 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

SO, and would have done it even before daylight had it 
been possible. 

" I have also to state that I am informed by Brigadier- 
General Scurry, who was in that portion of the battle, 
that the white flag displayed from Kuhn's Wharf was 
respected the moment it was seen." 

With the exception of Private Hersey, left to help 
take care of baggage, wounded men taken to hospital, Sur- 
geon Cummings, left to attend them, and naval officers 
to attend the funeral of Wainwright and Lea, all of the 
prisoners marched to Virginia Point in the afternoon, 
where they were obliged to wait until half-past one 
o'clock A. M. next day, January 2d, for cars to transport 
them to Houston. 

On arrival at that city, about noon, the depot was 
reported to be crowded with people, and the train was 
stopped half a mile out. The men then marched, under 
guard, through Houston to their quarters in a cotton 
warehouse near Buffalo Bayou. The officers were con- 
fined in Kennedy's building, corner of Travis and Congress 
Streets. 

On the march through crowded streets, many banter- 
ing remarks were made, mostly by women, who were 
exceedingly bitter and sarcastic. The men had been 
cautioned by their colonel not to pay any attention to 
insults, which they must expect to receive, but carry them- 
selves as if on parade. They did march through the City 
of Houston as if on parade, giving the people a sight of 
good marching, military bearing and good manners such 
as they had not seen before. 

In passing the Houston lelegraph newspaper office, 
where from the windows was displayed the captured 
regimental colors underneath the Texas Lone Star 
Flag, the men got mad, some of them threatening to "go 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



131 



for them." Cool counsel prevailed, and no trouble • 
occurred. 

The Houston Telegraph, in giving an account of the 
arrival of the prisoners, said they were acknowledged 
Americans, with an occasional foreigner to be seen among 
them, either Irish or Dutch. Gave them credit for being 
well dressed and good looking. Spoke of Colonel Burrell 
as a tall, slim specimen of a man, who was much stared at 
by the people, but he never lifted his eyes from the ground 
during the march. As the prisoners of war marched up 
Main Street they were well treated, and received from the 
Houstonites the compliment of being a fine-looking body 
of men, who ought to be ashamed of themselves for 
volunteering their services in the villainy of trying to 
subjugate a chivalrous people. 

At the hospitals in Galveston Surgeon Cummings 
remained until the eighteenth of January, attending 
Federal wounded, also assisting the Confederate surgeons. 
Sisters of Mercy, attached to the Convent of St. Leon, 
rendered service to the wounded of both sides impartially. 
On the tenth, while a gunboat was shelling the city from 
the Gulf side, some shells exploded in the convent yard, 
necessitating removal of patients to a small, wooden 
school-house, when a hospital flag was raised, which 
stopped further mischief. 

Commander Wainwright and Lieutenant Lea, of the 
Harriet Lane, were buried with Masonic and military 
honors on the second. Major Lea, C. S. A., father of the 
lieutenant, officiated at the grave, reading the Episcopal 
Church burial service in a firm, unfaltering voice to 
the end, when he gave way to his feelings and wept 
like a child. The rest of the killed were buried on the 
third. 

Surgeon Cummings, on the twentieth of January, found 



132 



HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



time to make the following official report of the killed 
and wounded : 

" Houston, Texas, January 20th, 1863. 
" Colonel I. S. Burrell, 

" 42d Regt. Mass. Vols.: 
^^ Sir, — The following is a correct list of the wounded 
of said Forty-Second Regiment at the battle of Galveston, 
January ist, 1863 : 



Name. 



Francis L. Nott. 

Jos. W. D. Parker. 
Edmund B. Doubel. 

George R. Dary. 

Thos. T. Sweetser. 

James L. Davis. 

John M. Barnard, Jr, 

John T. Cook. 
David L.Wentworth 



Wm. H. Covi^din. 
Francis L. Morrill. 

Tobias Enslee. 

Edwin F. Josselyn. 
Daniel J. Sullivan. 

Jas. O'Shaughnessy. 



Co. 



Rank. 



Private. 



Act-Ord. 
Sergt. of 

regt. 
1st Lieut, 
Private. 



How Wounded. 



Shell in left side of 

bowels. 
Ball in arm. 
Ball in left hand, 

severe. 
Ball in left arm, 

above elbow. 
Buckshot in chin, 

slight. 
Splinter in face, 

slight. 
Spent ball in left leg, 

slight. 
Splinter in leg,slight 
Shell in leg. 



Ball in back. 
Minnie ball in hand, 

severe. 
Splinter in head, 

slight. 
Shell in head, severe 
Minnie ball in hand, 

severe. 
Shell in both legs, 
right leg amputated. 



Result. 



17 



Died in 
hours. 
Recovering 



i 



I fear loss 

of arm. 
Recovering. 



"These are all the casualties in our regiment in the 
late severe battle, in which the only wonder is that one of 
us lived to tell the story. It seems indeed providential 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. L^^ 

that SO few are wounded and none killed on the spot. We 
have to mourn the loss of one noble fellow, Nott of 
Company G, a brave soldier and an excellent man, and to 
regret the loss of a leg of Company D, O'Shaughnessy, 
who is recovering rapidly. I amputated his leg just 
below the knee, in order to give him the benefit of 
the joint, which was not injured. 
" I have the honor to be, dear sir, 
"Yours faithfully, 

"A. I. CUMMINGS, 

" Surgeon 42 d Mass. Regt. VolsJ^ 

Besides the above, there were wounded, who did not 
report to the surgeon : Private John Barnes, Company D, 
slightly in leg ; and Private James W. Vinal, Company G, 
slightly in hip. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster was standing by the 
breastwork in conversation with Private Hersey when 
the first shot was fired, glanced on the breastwork and 
passed into the building. In a moment of excitement 
Foster fell wounded, so Hersey thought, but on an 
examination of a wound he received, a bad cut of a thumb, 
it proved to have been made by oyster shells upon which 
he had fallen. It was jocularly reported Foster had 
received a shell wound in the action. 

Private Nott was wounded during the first hour. He 
had got behind a hawser-post, where Colonel Burreli 
found him moaning faintly, with a terrible wound in the 
side and bowels. He was not apparently suffering any 
intense pain. To the question, if he was badly hurt, he 
replied, "Yes, in the side," and begged for water. Private 
Hersey went into the building and got it, which appeared 
to revive him somewhat from a state of apathy. When 



134 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the surgeon got an opportunity to examine his case, Nott 
was told he could not live many hours, as he was bleeding 
internally, and any message for home had better be 
given then. 

Private O'Shaughnessy was wounded during the first 
half hour. He yelled like an Indian on the war-path, and 
was carried into the hospital-room, where the surgeon 
remained at his post the entire time that the enemy's fire 
was concentrated upon it. 

Privates Enslee and Josselyn were wounded at the 
commencement, while standing ready to fire before the 
order was heard to lie down. A solid shot, or a shell, 
struck and crashed through the breastwork, splinters 
wounding Enslee in the head. A fragment of shell ruined 
Josselyn's musket, knocked it overboard, then glanced to 
his head. The wound bled profusely, but Josselyn did 
not know he was hit until blood was running down his 
face. Upon reporting at the hospital he was so covered 
with blood Surgeon Cummings was unable to recognize 
him. Binding his head up with a handkerchief, Josselyn 
returned to his post. 

Private Morrill, when wounded, tied a handkerchief 
around his hand and kept his place in the ranks until the 
action was over before reporting to the surgeon. 

Lieutenant Cowdin was wounded while lying down, 
during the first hour. A canister shot struck the store- 
house brick chimney, knocking it to pieces, the debris 
flying in all directions. Supposing he had been wounded 
by a falling brick, on standing up he was surprised to find 
several small shot ran down his clothing into a boot ; they 
had struck him in the back, low down, going through coat, 
shirt, pants and under-drawers. 

Company I, from its sheltered position, had no casual- 
ties. Private Eaton had his bayonet cut in halves, another 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I35 

man received a ball in his hat, and Private Paget had a 
ball cut his haversack straps. 

An official report of the action was not made to General 
Banks, until July, 1864, when Colonel Burrell arrived in 
New Orleans, paroled and exchanged. 



"New Orleans, July 27th, 1864. 
^'To Major George B. Drake, 

" Assistant Adjutant-Gefieral : 

^^ Major, — Pursuant to orders, I proceeded with my 
command to Galveston, Texas, and took post. I arrived 
there December 24th, 1862, landed next day on Kuhn's 
Wharf, and fortified by building barricades, and tearing up 
the bridge, making my position as strong as possible. 

" I took possession of the city as far as my small force 
would allow ; my scouts destroyed the telegraph running 
to Houston ; and I took such precautions as I thought 
necessary for holding the place. Commander Renshaw, 
who had command of the fleet, laid four months within 
musket shot of this telegraph and had allowed it to 
remain in working order. We found the railroad in good 
condition. Signals were thrown up every night, giving 
the enemy all the information they wanted. 

" I requested Commander Renshaw to go up the bay 
with two of his lightest draft steamers and dislodge the 
enemy. I also requested the use of two howitzers, which 
were on board of a schooner, and of no use to the 
schooner. Both requests *he refused to grant. 

" I landed my command on the wharf with the distinct 
understanding that I was to be supported by the steamer 
Harriet La7ie on my right and the steamer Clifto?i on my 
left. On the morning of the first January, 1863, about four 
o'clock, I was attacked by a force of infantry and cavalry, 



136 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

amounting to over six tliousand men, with thirty-two 
pieces of artillery. The only support I received was from 
the steamer Sache7?t, and the schooner Corypheus manned 
with fifteen men and one gun. The steamer Sachem was 
out of order, with her fires out to repair boilers. The 
Harriet Lane laid so far up the stream she was unable to 
retreat, and became easy prey. The steamer Owasco 
was two miles below the city, with little or no steam up. 
The steamer Westjield, with Commander Renshaw aboard, 
managed to get aground three miles below the city, and 
signaled for the Clifton to come and get her off. At this 
time the enemy opened their heavy guns upon me from 
the head of the wharf, and continued to throw shot and 
shell for one hour, when they made an assault with two of 
their regiments to drive me from my position. We 
repulsed them, and they retreated with severe loss. My 
officers and men fought with great gallantry. Being with- 
out artillery I had to rely upon the Sachei7i and a little 
schooner for support. 

"At this time two cotton boats attacked the Harriet 
Lane, driving the men from their guns, killing Captain 
Wainwright. The steamer Owasco came up and fired a 
few shots, also the Clifton, who had fired but seven or 
eight shots when a flag of truce was entertained, and they 
agreed to cease hostilities for three hours, and imme- 
diately dropped down stream without consulting rne at all 
in the matter. At this time the enemy were in full 
retrea't from the wharf ; the artillery had limbered up and 
withdrawn. 

" In a short time they returned, and immediately put 
their guns in position and opened fire. I had no alterna- 
tive but to surrender after the fleet had left. Entirely 
deserted by the navy in a cowardly manner. They had 
agreed to take my command off the wharf if we were 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 137 

hard pressed. The steamers Clifton and Owasco passed 
by, but refused to render any assistance. After receiving 
the fire of the enemy for a half-hour, and receiving no 
assistance, I was compelled to surrender myself and my 
command. 

'' The fleet, at the expiration of the three hours agreed 
upon by flag of truce (except the Westfield^ which was 
blown up), ran out of the harbor without firing a shot. 

" It is my opinion and belief that Commander Renshaw 
was a traitor, he being in constant communication with 
the enemy. Commander Law proved himself unworthy 
of his command. In not holding Galveston we lost the 
key to Texas. 

" Enclosed please find the report of my excellent and 
lamented surgeon. Dr. A. I. Cummings. 

" The following is a list of the amount of property lost 
and surrendered : two hundred and seventy small-arms, 
(one hundred and eighty Springfield smooth-bores and 
ninety Springfield rifles) ; equipments for two hundred 
and sixty men ; medical stores to the amount of $i,ooo; 
one set of surgical instruments ; twenty A tents and 
three wall tents ; five boxes of ammunition ; twenty days' 
rations for two hundred and sixty men. 

" I remain, major, 

" Very respectfully, 

"I. S. BURRELL, 

'' Colonel 42d Regi. Mass. Vols.'' 

Admiral Farragut severely censured the naval officers 
for their conduct in this action, and would not listen to 
any explanations. He was chagrined at the capture of 
the Harriet Lane. When her crew, under parole, reported 
to him, on their return to the Federal lines, he gave them 



138 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

a severe lecture, and accused each and every man of 
cowardice, threatening to punish those who tried to offer 
an excuse. The sailors said they had never seen the "old 
man " so mad. A bitter feeling existed among the Harriet 
Lane's crew against the Clifton's crew, which led to 
several fistic encounters in New Orleans, when they met 
each other. 

A full inquiry into the cause of the disaster had been 
made by Admiral Farragut. A court-martial, held on 
board the flag-ship Hartford, had resulted in condemning 
Commanders Law and Wilson. The blame for this defeat 
had been placed where it belonged, and when the 
exchanged officers of the regiment left New Orleans for 
New York, General Banks placed in the colonel's hands 
the following letter: 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

"New Orleans, August 5th, 1864. 
" To His Excellency Governor Andrew, 

" Of Massachusetts : 
"^S/r, — Colonel Isaac S. Burrell, of the Forty-Second 
Massachusetts Volunteers, left New York with the troops 
under my command at the time I entered service in this 
Department. Two days after I assumed command here he 
was sent with his regiment to protect the island of Gal- 
veston, which had been for three months in the possession 
of the naval authorities of the United Stales. Two com- 
panies of his regiment, under his own command, arrived 
there on the twenty-fourth of December, 1862. The plans 
of the rebels for the recapture of the island had been so far 
matured that before the balance of his regiment could 
reach the island (a large part of which was within sight 
at the time the recapture occurred), it was impossible for 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 139 

him, with his small force, to defend the post or effect a 
retreat with his men. By an arrangement with the com- 
manding officer of the naval squadron the rebels had 
maintained a railway communication from the main-land 
to the island, and upon the night of the attack they ran 
their forces of five or six thousand, with heavy artillery, 
to within a quarter of a mile of the position occupied by 
Colonel Burrell. It is unnecessary for me to recount the 
facts connected with this disaster to our arms, but it is 
just to Colonel Burrell, to say, that it is in no wise 
attributable to him, but that his conduct and that of his 
men, from the testimony of all parties, was highly creditable 
to the service. 

" He has been held prisoner of war by the enemy from 
the first of January, 1863, until recently exchanged. He 
has suffered greatly in health, and is entitled to considera- 
tion from the officers of the general government, as 
from the officers of the State of Massachusetts. I 
commend him to the favor of your Excellency, as in all 
respects worthy of favorable consideration. 

" I have the honor to be 

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"N. P. BANKS, 

''''Major- General commatidrng." 



140 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER V. 

At Carrollton — Bound for Galveston — Arrival 
OF Companies — Camp Mansfield — Details. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL T. W. SHERMAN was in 
command of all United States forces assembled at 
several camps in and about Carrollton, a suburb of New 
Orleans, distant a few miles north of that city. The town did 
not contain many houses or white inhabitants, and was 
situated on low, wet, swampy ground. The vacant squares of 
building lots was ground on which the troops pitched their 
tents. Camp Mansfield contained the One Hundred and 
Tenth New York Infantry, One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth 
New York Infantry, One Hundred and Sixty-First New 
York Infantry, Third New Hampshire Infantry, Twenty- 
Fifth Connecticut Infantry, detachment Forty-Second 
Massachusetts Infantry, Twenty-Fifth New York Light 
Battery, Reed's Massachusetts Rifle Rangers — in all about 

four thousand men ; Colonel Littlejohn, th New York, 

commanding the post. 

The release from close confinement on board transports 
was, for a time, enjoyed by everybody, regardless of 
weather changes. The days were warm and pleasant, 
but the nights freezing cold, causing much suffering, as no 
boards could be obtained for tent floors, or firewood to 
build bonfires. Why diarrhoea and dysentery did not 
attack more men while at this camp, than was the case, is 
surprising. Camp regulations in regard to men being out 
of quarters after taps had to be set aside, for, finding it 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I4I 

impossible to sleep without getting chilled, many of them 
would cluster around the cooking-stoves, that were kept 
heated, and endeavor to keep warm until day, with its 
bright, southern sunshine and warmth, should dawn, when 
they could be comfortable. The rattling of drums beating 
reveille in the various camps caused many a man of that 
four thousand to feel thankful. 

According to orders received the evening of January 
2d, 1863, the detachment (Companies A, B and F) struck 
camp on the morning of January 3d, went to the river 
levee and embarked on board steamer Che-Kiang, at nine 
o'clock, en route for Galveston, Texas, to join Companies 
D, G and I. While lying at the United States Barracks 
at night on the third, where most of the day was passed 
in taking aboard stores, ammunition, horses, and a detach- 
ment First Texas Cavalry, recruited from Texas refugees, 
a furious thunder-storm occurred. Rain fell in torrents ; 
the lightning seemed to be everywhere and constant, with 
deafening peals of thunder. It was a scene not to be 
forgotten, and although showers of the same magnitude 
were afterwards experienced, none made so vivid an 
impression on the memory as this first thunder-storm 
witnessed in the sunny South. 

During Sunday, the fourth, there seemed to be a strange 
foreboding in the minds of a great many that some 
unfortunate occurrence had taken place. The transport 
was not in a hurry to proceed on the voyage, and there 
was an ominous silence among officers who were supposed 
to know the cause of delay. At noon the truth became 
known. Galveston had been captured by Confederates, 
with Companies D, G and I, and the regimental colors. 
All the mad projects, which found vent in words, that 
started in the brains of men on board the Che-Kiang 
would not be believed if they were given here. A dare- 



142 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

devil spirit to do something that would recapture their 
comrades, restore their colors, and wipe out the stigma 
which they felt would be against the regiment, animated 
every breast. 

When Lieutenant M. Burrell, Jr. with First-Sergeant 
Henry White, of Company A, came on board and recited 
their story of the affair, although not very elaborate or 
satisfactory, it was listened to with marked attention. 
They had started a few days before in the transport 
Honduras for Galveston, with the First Vermont Battery 
on board, arriving off the harbor on the morning of the 
capture, and been ordered back to New Orleans by a 
naval officer commanding a gunboat that was in the 
action. The companies disembarked a second time at 
Carrollton in the afternoon of January 4th, and went 
into camp at Camp Mansfield on worse ground than 
before. 

Next day Companies E and K, from the Charles Osgood^ 
reported for duty and pitched their tents. Quartermaster 
Burrell and Adjutant Davis also came into camp, having 
just arrived from Galveston after escaping capture. They 
were received with cheers and congratulations. 

This camp was situated on very swampy ground with 
two ravines running lengthwise through it, made to drain 
the water during rainy seasons. The arrangement of 
tents was made as symmetrical as possible, but formation 
of the ground completely spoiled its beauty. To reach 
the color-line a deep water gully had to be passed, marring 
the good appearance of a dress parade. The hospital was 
located in a vacated school-house, distant half a mile from 
camp, because it was impossible to accommodate patients 
in the hospital tent. Assistant-Surgeon Hitchcock was 
quite sick with typhoid fever soon after reaching Carrollton, 
and Assistant-Surgeon George C. Smith, One Hundred 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I43 

and Fifty-Sixth New York Infantry, was detailed to occupy 
his position temporarily, serving the regiment from 
January 17th to 27th.* 

On the twelfth, Major Stiles, with Companies C and H, 
reported for duty at camp, receiving a warm reception. 
The men were as much pleased to tread dry land once 
more as their comrades were to see them. The day and 
night was occupied by the men in reciting each other's 
adventures since they parted in New York. 

An aggravating case of desertion occurred January 2d, 
when Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, deserted the 
service and his regiment under circumstances proving him 
to be an arrant coward. Placed in a position as acting- 
engineer on board the transport Quincy, while on her trip 
from New York with the three companies, he received the 
best of treatment, lived in the same manner as the 
officers, at no cost to himself, and on arrival at New 
Orleans received extra pay from Captain Clapp of the 
Quincy, for his services on the voyage ; this Buffum, 
regardless of all feelings of honor and duty, improved the 
opportunity thus given him, detached and away from 
his company for a few days after landing, to procure a 
change of clothing and bribe the first-engineer on the 
Quincy to conceal him on board upon her return trip to 
New York. 

Several orders sent him to report for duty with his 
company and not obeyed caused a search to be made, 
when his desertion was discovered. An overhauling of 
the Quincy failed to find him. It was ascertained some 
months afterward (April 24th), when he came into the 
hands of provost-marshal Captain John Pickering of New 

* While at Carrollton the average daily sick in the regiment was : taken sick, five ; 
returned to duty, five; sick in hospital, twelve; sick in quarters, eighteen; an 
I average of thirty men each day under a surgeon's care. 



144 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Orleans, having surrendered himself at Fort Columbus, 
New York harbor, March 31st, under the promise of 
pardon made by President Lincoln in General Orders 
No. 58, War Department, issued March nth, 1863, to all 
deserters who returned to duty, that Buffum was on 
board the Quincy during the search, stowed away on the 
top of her boiler. As the searching party passed one side 
of it he would slide down the opposite side until they had 
passed, and then return to the top. 

There are no extenuating circumstances connected with 
Buffum's desertion. He was .a married man, with wife 
and children living. As a man he should have had some 
respect for their feelings, even though he was without 
honor himself. He never was ill-treated by his officers. 
His profession placed him in a position to be of great 
service to the Government, by performing detached duty 
as engineer on some of the railroads and steamers con- 
trolled by United States officers in Louisiana. Private 
Buffum was so detailed by orders from Department 
headquarters, to which detail answer had to be returned : 
"Deserted in New Orleans, January 2d, 1863, and has not 
since been apprehended." 

In connection with this case of desertion may properly 
be stated the three cases of enlisted men who were 
disciplined at this camp. Corporal Denny, Company E, 
was, January 22d, ordered to be placed in arrest by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. A captain objected to some 
statements that had appeared in a communication sent 
home by the corporal for publication, and preferred charges 
against him. Denny remained in arrest until after his 
trial by a division court-martial held January 27th, in New 
Orleans, and the proceedings of the court could be 
passed upon by General Sherman. The charge and 
specification was as follows : 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 45 

CHARGE. 

" Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military 
Discipline." 

Specification — In this : that he, Corporal Denny, was 
author of, did write and cause to be published in the 
Worcester Daily Spy, on the morning of December 29th, 
1862, an article containing sentiments false and calculated 
to mislead the public with reference to the acts of Captain 
George P. Davis, then commanding troops on board the 
Charles Osgood, and reflecting censure on his (Corporal 
Denny's) superior officer, which article was, in form and 
substance, as follows : 

" Considerable feeling was created by the refusal of 
the privilege, but a quantity of whiskey provided by the 
officers allayed the feeling with some, while it only added 
intensity with others. It was looked at by many as a 
kind of bribe, while others were conscientiously opposed 
to the indiscriminate distribution of whiskey by even 
superior officers. It is to the credit of a large number 
that they threw the stuff overboard as soon as received. 
There is a general feeling that whiskey drinking is already 
too prevalent to have it so openly countenanced, and all 
well-wishers of the Union army hope the practice may 
soon be abandoned." 

Said article, of which the above is only an extract, was 
written after the departure of the steamer Charles Osgood 
from New York and before her arrival at New Orleans. 

To which charge and specification the accused pleaded 
as follows : 

To the specification — Not guilty. 
To the charge — Not guilty. 



146 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

FINDING OF THE COURT. 

The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence 
adduced, finds the accused. Corporal Everett A. Denny of 
Company E, Forty-Second Regiment Massachusetts Volun- 
teers, as follows : 

Of the specification — Guilty. 
Of the charge — Guilty. 

SENTENCE. 

And the Court does therefore sentence him. Corporal 
Everett A. Denny, Company E, Forty-Second Regiment 
Massachusetts Volunteers, to be reduced to the ranks, to 
forfeit ten dollars of his pay, and to be publicly repri- 
manded by the commanding officer of his regiment. 

The sentence was approved in General Orders No. 16, 
Defences New Orleans, March 7th, 1863, and Corporal 
Denny released from arrest and returned to duty with his 
com-pany March 17th. 

Whether the offence was worth the trouble and expense 
of a trial is a debatable question. Corporal Denny was 
young and inexperienced at the time ; with more years 
upon his shoulders he would probably have been more 
discreet. There were many young correspondents with 
the army who did not always confine their letters to 
matters of public interest, but dabbled with surmises of 
probable movements by the troops, their strength, posi- 
tions occupied, and morale of ofiicers and men. This is 
against army rules, and not to be tolerated. It is indirectly 
furnishing information of value to the enemy. 

Private James White, of Com^Dany A, while at Carrollton, 
disobeyed orders, using disrespectful language towards his 
superior officer. A regimental court-martial convicted and 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



147 



sentenced him to forfeit one month's pay and to walk six 
hours a day for fourteen days — three in the morning and 
three in the afternoon — with a log of wood tied across 
his back, weighing not more than fifty pounds and not less 
than twenty-five pounds, and to do fatigue duty every morn- 
ing. As provided in orders for regimental courts-martial, 
the sentence was approved by the brigade commander. 

Private Jotham E. Bigelow, of Company K, was placed 
in arrest for sleeping on his sentry post. By regimental 
General Orders No. 11, issued January 30th, he was 
released from arrest and ordered to duty, because, '^from 
his previous good conduct as a soldier in all matters, and 
being the first case of the kind in the regiment." A 
warning was issued in the orders that future cases would 
not be dealt with so leniently. 

All proceedings in cases proper for a regimental court- 
martial had to be before a field-officer of the regiment, by 
General Orders No. 91, issued July 29th, 1862, from the 
War Department. Major Stiles was in every case detailed 
to hear the evidence. 

At CarroUton several heavy details were made of work- 
ing parties to unload vessels at the levee, besides attending 
to a regular routine of camp duty. Short marches were 
taken out on the shell road to accustom the troops to that 
exercise. When Brigadier-General Emory assumed the 
command he watched sharply these marching drills, also 
the company and battalion drills of each organization. 
As some field-officers were inclined to consume time in 
executing fancy tactical movements when they had their 
regiments on drill, a general order was issued indicating a 
more rapid mode of instruction for the field. The follow- 
ing points were enjoined as of the first importance : 

1st. The firings — to be executed with facility, prompt- 
ness, and good order. 



148 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

2cl. Rapid ployments and deployments while marching 
as well as from a halt. 

3d. Sudden and rapid formations of squares against 
cavalry. 

With these instructions carefully and faithfully carried 
out, any troops could soon be made fairly efficient for field 
service, with discipline also enforced. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, on several occasions, as 
field-officer of the day, had to make the grand rounds. 
The start was usually made between eleven and twelve 
o'clock at night. Considerable ground had to be covered 
to reach various bodies of troops occupying scattered 
camps, while the outpost stations would consume much 
time. Acting under verbal orders to thoroughly do this 
duty, numerous attempts were made to catch sentries off 
their guard ; in some cases quite successfully, but it 
resulted in creating bad feeling ,between the organization 
so caught, and the regiment from which the field-officer of 
the day belonged. One of the most notable cases was a 
surprise of the Fifteenth New Hampshire camp. Upon 
approaching a sentry he failed to challenge, and seemed 
glad to take part in a casual conversation, which was com- 
menced, when it was seen the man. was not reliable in his 
duty. Finally, he was seized without resistance and his 
musket taken away, frightening the poor fellow to such an 
extent it was with difficulty the grand rounds' party could 
remain by him while proceeding towards the guard quar- 
ters, where everything was found to be all right, with the 
men alert. 

The One Hundred and Tenth New York camp was 
entered one night without a challenge, or being seen by 
any sentinels; on stealthily approaching the guard quar- 
ters, where a log fire was burning, no sign of life was seen 
excepting a solitary sentinel pacing to and fro before a line 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 49 

of Stacked muskets. Watching a favorable opportunity he 
was made a quasi-prisoner, much to his chagrin, and on 
inspecting the guard tents a few men were found sound 
asleep, with no officer of the guard present. Routing out 
the regimental officer of the day to investigate the matter, 
it appeared that the reliefs, together with officers of the 
guard, had gone to their quarters for sleep. 

After a few incidents like these were reported to post 
headquarters, it was not long before sentries were wide 
awake for surprises. It became dangerous business to 
attempt any fooling with sentries, and such attempts were 
abandoned. Whenever a field-officer of the Fifteenth New 
Hampshire or One Hundred and Tenth New York had the 
grand rounds, in retaliation, they tried various ways to catch 
the Forty-Second guard napping, but never succeeded. 

On one of these grand rounds' tour of duty, while pro- 
ceeding along the levee road towards outpost stations, the 
road was found to be in an impassable condition, owing 
to a small break in the levee, not known to exist, as during 
the early afternoon one of the officers had found the road 
in good condition. An occupant of a house near at hand 
was awakened to obtain directions how to proceed : the 
man either intentionally or by mistake directed the party 
to take the levee embankment, his reasons for the bad 
condition of the road not creating any suspicion that a 
crevasse existed in the levee. Proceeding along the 
embankment with Sergeant -Major Bosson leading the 
mounted party, his horse suddenly stopped, and no 
amount of urging could induce the animal to move for- 
ward. In the pitchy darkness it was impossible to see 
what was the matter, so the party with difficulty (the 
embankment top was very narrow) turned about, going 
back, finally reaching another road leading to the out- 
posts. The next morning, upon examining the road at 



150 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

this point, there was found a small break in the levee. 
Had the horse kept on for a few feet, both horse and rider 
would have been in the Mississippi River. 

A sharp report from several muskets, fired by sentinels, 
followed with a cry of fire, roused the camp at two o'clock 
on the morning of January 26th. Not far from the camp 
lines was a small frame house, used by ofhcers of the 
Forty-Second for messing. This had caught fire, burning 
to the ground. The primitive fire department of Carroll- 
ton rallied, consisting of several white men, a gang of 
negroes with an old worn out double-deck hand fire- 
engine, requiring not over ten men to man the brakes, 
without suction hose, water being furnished the engine by 
hand buckets, and a small hose carriage. A detail of men 
from the regiment soon took possession of this fire appar- 
atus, relieving the local firemen of any responsibility, and 
earnestly endeavored to stop the flames. What was in 
rain water cisterns attached to the nearest houses was all 
the water that could be used. There was great sport in 
fighting this fire, as well as some sharp and brave work in 
saving vdiat was in the house. For the purpose of obtain- 
ing indemnity from the Government, the owner implicated 
officers of the regiment with this fire. A council of inves- 
tigation was ordered by Brigadier-General Emory into the 
circumstances ; the detail consisted of Captains Cogswell 
and Cook and Lieutenant Gorham, who found that the fire 
was accidental. 

Lieutenant Proctor was without a command, as his com- 
pany were prisoners of war. Upon landing, with men 
of Company G who were with him, he met Colonel N. A. 
M. Dudley, an old friend, in the city, who requested him 
to join his brigade, then at Baton Rouge, as he wanted a 
brigade quartermaster, and wished to appoint the lieutenant 
to that position. Although attached to another brigade 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 151 

and division, Colonel Dudley thought he could arrange 
the matter with his division general, Grover, and the 
Department headquarters. Lieutenant Proctor proceeded 
to Baton Rouge, but Dudley could not carry out his plan, 
as Adjutant-General Irwin stated it was against the rules 
of the service. This was true. Lieutenant Proctor and 
his men reported back to the regiment February 3d. 

First Sergeant Nichols, Company G, was detailed acting 
lieutenant of Company E, vice Stowell, a prisoner of war. 

Sergeant Attwell, Company G, remained unattached. 

Private H. C. Green, Company G, was attached to Com- 
pany K for duty. 

Private John Luzardo, Company G, was attached to 
Company K for duty. 

Sergeant Vialle, Company G, remained unattached. 

War Department General Orders No. 5, issued January 
5th, 1863, had made the troops in the Gulf Department 
to constitute the Nineteenth Army Corps, to date from 
December 14th, 1862. Orders were issued from Depart- 
ment headquarters on the thirteenth of January attaching 
the Forty-Second to the Second Brigade, Second Division, 
Nineteenth Army Corps. In the brigade were the Twenty- 
Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, three years men ; Forty- 
Second Massachusetts Infantry, nine months men ; Forty- 
Seventh Massachusetts Infantry, nine months men ; Ninth 
Connecticut Infantry, three years men ; Twenty-Eighth 
Maine Infantry, nine months men. The brigade was then 
under command of Colonel Farr, Twenty-Sixth Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, and constituted part of the garrison 
in the Defences of New Orleans. 

The regiment remained in camp at Carrollton until Jan- 
uary 28th, receiving marching orders for five companies to 
take post at Bayou Gentilly, on the Ponchartrain Railroad 
crossing, on the twenty-seventh. 



152 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Up to this date the following changes by detail and 
sickness had occurred : 

January 17th — Companies C and H left for duty in 
engineer service. 

January 25th— Quartermaster Burrell was detailed by 
brigade orders as acting brigade quartermaster. Lieu- 
tenant Albert E. Proctor, Company G, by regimental 
orders, was detailed as acting regimental quartermaster, 
on the twenty-sixth. 

Assistant Surgeon Isaac Smith, Jr., Twenty-Sixth Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers, was detailed to act as surgeon 
during Surgeon Hitchcock's sickness, relieving Surgeon 
Smith, One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New York Vol- 
unteers, and joined the regiment for duty on the twenty- 
ninth, at Bayou Gentilly. 

Captain George P. Davis, Company K, and Lieutenant 
T. M. Duncan, Company F, by department orders, were 
detailed for duty in the provost-marshal general's office? 
on the twenty-first. 

Captain Charles A. Pratt, Company E, had been absent 
from camp on sick leave, and not on duty since his com- 
pany landed from the Charles Osgood. Captain Pratt did 
not see any service with his company. He resigned, and 
was discharged for ill health by Special Orders No. — , 
Gulf Department, March 28th, 1863. 

January 3d — Corporal Alonzo I. Hodsdon, Company D, 
was appointed acting quartermaster-sergeant, in place of 
Foster, taken prisoner at Galveston. Hodsdon, with the 
pay of his rank as corporal to July 12th, performed the 
arduous duty of the position in a most admirable manner 
during the term of the regiment. Special mention is made 
in his case over that of other non-commissioned staff- 
officers, because of his devoted attention to the duties 
with no prospect before him of any promotion to the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 53 

position. While Foster lived, Corporal Hodsdon remained 
a corporal. Foster's parole, when released by the Con- 
federates, did not allow him to take his position until 
exchanged, which did not occur during the term of service. 

January ist — Private Eldridge G. Harwood, Company 
B, was appointed regimental carpenter. 

January 15th — Private Clark K. Denny, Company F, 
was detailed as orderly and clerk at regimental head- 
quarters. 

January 15th — Private Leavitt Bates, Company A, was 
detailed as clerk to headquarters of General Emory, at 
Carrollton. Relieved February 3d. 

January 15th — Private John A. Loud, Company A, was 
made regimental armorer. 

January 30th — Private Winfield B. Tirrell, Company A, 
was detailed as orderly at brigade headquarters, by brigade 
orders. 

The Quartermaster Department was advanced a stage 
in its appointments, by organizing the wagon train, as 
follows : Private John Willy, Company B, chief wagoner ; 
Private Porter Carter, Company K, Corporal Alfred 
Thayer, Company I, Privates Chauncey K. Bullock, Com- 
pany D, G. G. Belcher, Company F, Joseph B. Ford, Com- 
pany A, as wagoners. 

On moving to Bayou Gentilly the following sick men 
were left in general hospital at Carrollton : Privates Adin 
P. Blake, Company B, George E. Pond, Company B, 
Lucius M. Turner, Company B, and Surgeon Hitchcock. 



:54 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER VI. 

FEBRUARY AT BAYOU GENTILLY MORE DETAILS. 

THAT part of Bayou Gentilly where a portion of the 
Forty-Second was to remain in camp for nearly live 
months was, at the time of arrival, a most desolate looking 
place. The Gentilly road passed the camp ground, leading 
to Fort Macomb, on Lake Ponchartrain, and at this point, 
at this time, was in a wretched condition. Each side of 
the road was lined by small plantations and pasture lands, 
extending back for a short distance to swamps. Most of 
the plantations were uninhabited, the land covered with 
rank vegetation, and showed every sign of abandonment. 
Occasionally some hut or rude cabin would give signs of 
life — occupied by charcoal burners, who carried on their 
vocation in the swamps. The Ponchartrain Railroad, from 
New Orleans to Lakeport, on Lake Ponchartrain, five miles 
long, in a direct line through the swamp to the lake, ran 
only two trains a day. Save the regiment, scarcely a per- 
son would be seen for days. 

A sugar-cane plantation near the camp, belonging to a 
Mr. Lee, was used to pasture private and Government 
cattle, and recruit the strength of horses and mules run 
down by hard service in the army. The private residence, 
negro cabins, stables and work houses remained in very 
good order. The sugar-house was a mass of ruins. An 
extensive grove of plum .trees was in good condition. 

Pent up in this flat spot of land, with nothing to relieve 
the eve but a mass of trees situated in the swamjD, their 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 55 

limbs covered with liglit-colored moss, had a depressing 
effect on the spirits of some men, who began early to show 
signs of home-sickness. 

The ground selected for the camp was upon the old 
Louisiana race-course, the best to be found in the neigh- 
borhood. This race-course had been surrounded by a 
high board fence, such as enclose similar grounds, but 
had disappeared, leaving the ground as open as the land 
about it. Adjoining the Gentilly road and Ponchartrain 
Railroad, the side towards New Orleans was on the border 
of a swamp. This ground was formerly occupied for a 
camp by Confederate troops. The famous Washington 
Artillery, of New Orleans, first went into camp at this 
place at the commencement of hostilities. A portion of 
the Confederate garrison of New Orleans, when General 
Butler landed, were also encamped here. What few inhab- 
itants were to be seen said that a large number of men 
had at various times been in camp at this point, and was a 
general rendezvous for many of the Louisiana troops when 
organizing for the war. Many an hour has been pleasantly 
passed inspecting the writings and pictures upon the walls 
of a building used by them as a hospital, placed there by 
men from the Thirtieth and Thirty-First Louisiana regi- 
ments. 

By railroad the distance from New Orleans to Gentilly 
Station was three miles, and from Gentilly Station to the 
Lake End, or Lakeport, was two miles. A short distance 
up the track towards Lakeport and back from the Gentilly 
road, which the railroad crosses at grade, was an earthwork 
mounting four heavy guns, called Battery Gentilly, flanked 
by extensive breastworks for infantry, with wide and deep 
ditches in front filled with water. Trees in the swamp in 
front had been cut down for a considerable distance to 
give good range to the guns. Another earthwork, mount- 



156 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

ing nine guns, was situated on the Gentilly road, towards 
Fort Macomb, some two and one-half miles from the rail- 
road track, and was in all its surroundings similar to Bat- 
tery Gentilly. 

On the twenty-eighth of January, when the regiment 
changed camps, the roads were in very good condition in 
spite of cold weather, and rain falling for two days previous. 
Great coats were worn ; the men were in excellent spirits, 
and the distance, about three miles, was accomplished 
early in the afternoon. Very few men straggled ; most of 
those that did were suffering from diarrhoea. The line of 
march embraced a circuit of New Orleans on its immediate 
outskirts, affording few opportunities to see subjects of 
interest to strangers in a new land. A greater part of the 
houses were either deserted or occupied by the poorer 
class of people ; only a few were evidently the property 
of wealthy individuals. Some handsome residences were 
seen, but their occupants were decidedly unfriendly. They 
could be seen looking slyly through blinds and from door 
corners, but none threw their windows open in a bold 
manner to look out of them, as the regiment marched 
past. 

The houses were generally in good repair, many of one 
or two stories in height, with large windows and doors ; 
nearly one-half had a veranda in front of each story. 
The gardens were in a deplorable condition. Few 
people were seen on the roads, and they, except the 
negroes, evinced no interest in the regiment. There was 
one knot of women collected together who would frequently 

hiss : " d d Yankees," " ain't you ashamed," " hope you 

will all die," and similar words of welcome. None of the 
men paid any attention to them. Coffee houses and apol- 
ogies for restaurants, located on the route, were generally 
closed for want of business ; their signs were retained, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



57 



put up when the secession excitement was in full blaze. 
Beauregard was the favorite name for use on these signs. 

Having arrived at Bayou Gentilly, by night-time camp 
was pitched and everything made as comfortable as pos- 
sible. The hospital was located in a wide and long one- 
story wooden building, formerly used for a liquor and 
refreshment saloon, attached to the race-course. Head- 
quarters was also established in the building. The quar- 
termaster and commissary stores, and the horses, occupied 
a similar building, which had been built or refitted for 
the purpose, a short distance away towards the railroad 
crossing 

General Banks, having issued a general order calling 
for volunteers to fill the Second Vermont Battery, Captain 
Holcomb, the next day, twenty-ninth, Corporal Thomas 
Hanson White, Company K, Private John B. Williams, 
Company K, Private Addison J. Williams, Company K, 
Private William F. Howard, Company K, Private Horace 
M. Cowles, Company K, Private Oscar J. Stockwell, 
Company E, and Private Oliver King, Company E, who 
had volunteered, received their descriptive lists, final 
orders, and left camp to join the battery then stationed 
at Donaldsonville, to remain until their term of service 
expired. This battery was in the army before Port 
Hudson, and the men saw some hard service. None of 
them died from disease, or were wounded or killed. They 
rejoined the regiment at Algiers, July 23d. 

The month of January closed with five companies on 
duty at Bayou Gentilly, showing a strength of sixteen 
officers and four hundred and forty-nine men present, with 
sixteen of the men sick in hospital. 

In February the regiment was still further scattered by 
several details. Cold and rainy weather, combined with 
these continual details, rather dispirited for awhile both 



158 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

officers and men, who gradually became convinced that as 
a body the regiment was not destined during its service to 
perform any gallant deeds, or be placed in a position to 
try and do so. 

A detachment of one sergeant, three corporals and 
twenty-five privates from Company A, under command of 
Lieutenant Martin Burrell, Jr., was ordered February 3d to 
take charge and guard the battery situated on the Gentilly 
road, towards Fort Macomb. At the time of taking 
charge of this battery it mounted nine guns. Battery 
Gentilly did not have an armament. During the month, 
as nothing was to be feared from the enemy in this direc- 
tion, and the Confederates could attempt a demonstration 
against New Orleans from the direction of the lake in the 
neighborhood of Lakeport, Bayou St. John and Hickok's 
Landing, General Sherman, commanding Defences New 
Orleans, had his ordnance officer. Captain Pease, Forty- 
Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, remove the guns from 
this battery and use them to equip Battery Gentilly on the 
railroad track and Battery St. John on St. John Bayou. 
Removalof these guns and putting them into their new 
positions occupied about one month. On the eighteenth 
the transfer had so far advanced that the detachment 
under Lieutenant Burrell was ordered to the battery on 
the Ponchartrain Road. It was not until March loth 
that Battery St. John was occupied and taken in charge 
by the remaining men of Company A, under command of 
Captain Coburn. 

Pay day were talismanic words to the soldier. Visions 
of a pocket full of " Uncle Sam's " greenbacks float before 
the eyes of those men who had not allotted their money., 
Depending altogether on his frugality, for days or weeks] 
after being paid off a soldier can visit the sutler, andj 
at enormous prices buy little delicacies and necessaries to 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 59 

go with his Government rations, to make them more 
palatable. Tobacco and pipes were the most popular 
articles of purchase. Liquor had peculiar charms for a 
great many. 

The first muster for pay of the regiment took place at 
Carrollton on the twenty-seventh of January, when the 
troops at that place were mustered to December 31st, 
1862. Government always has its troops in arrears two 
months at least, to cover any overdrafts on clothing 
account, or fines charged them by sentence of courts- 
martial for misdemeanors. The troops are mustered for 
pay on the last day of the month every two months during 
the year, when all men present are reported on the muster 
and pay rolls, who draw their pay when the paymaster 
makes his appearance. Absent men, except on detached 
service by orders, do not get mustered, but have to wait 
until the next muster and payment before obtaining any 
money; this, to most men, is sufficient punishment for 
their absence without leave. 

Companies A, B, E, F and K were paid off at Bayou 
Gentilly on February 2d, by a major in the Paymasters' 
Department attached to the Department of the Gulf. 
Companies C and H were paid a few days later at Camp 
Parapet. Payments to all companies of the regiment 
(except Company K) were made with regularity and 
promptness during the term of service, because, stationed 
in close proximity to New Orleans most of the time 
afforded paymasters easy access to them. Company K, 
while on duty with the army in the field, was not so 
fortunate. The paroled men of Companies D, G and I 
were first mustered for pay on the regular muster day, 
February 28th, and first paid April 27th, when they were 
paid from the date of their enlistment to March ist. 

Those wdio did not allot any of their pay, received what 



l6o HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

seemed to be at that time large sums of money. The 
nine months troops were allowed regular pay from time of 
signing the enlistment rolls, and a large number had done 
so early in' August and September, 1862 ; they had, there- 
fore, some six and seven months pay due them. The 
allotment system never found much favor with men of the 
Forty-Second, so that nearly every soldier received the full 
amount due him without any deductions. Many men, with 
families at home, availed themselves of an express arrange- 
ment at low rates with the Adams & Co. Express, to forward 
most of their pay, every pay day, to those in need of it. 

The unmarried men, with those of a spendthrift character, 
retained their money, spending the larger part of it in a 
bar-room, otherwise called a sutler's shop, situated in the 
same building used for headquarters and for a hospital, 
kept by a man called Charley Ellis. This man Ellis, in 
all outward appearances a well-meaning man, was at heart 
a perfect rogue. Formerly lessee of the New Orleans 
race-course (the grounds occupied by the regiment for a 
camp), at the time Louisiana secede he was a professed 
Union man, suffering a short imprisonment in the Parish 
jail, and was treated to a coat of tar and feathers for his 
sentiments. Nothing definite is known of his former 
history except that he was a professional horse jockey, 
an admirer of sports of the turf, and a regular sporting 
man. As lessee of the race-course he ran in debt, and 
was unable to pay. Upon the occupation of New Orleans 
by troops under General Butler, he enlisted the sym- 
pathies of that general. He kept a regular drinking saloon 
in the city, and whenever troops occupied the race-course 
for a camp opened a branch establishment on the ground, 
if he was lucky enough to hoodwink the commanding 
officer, nominally to furnish sutlers' stores, but practically 
as a drinking saloon. 



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MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. l6l 

Ellis, by his plausible stories and seductive manners, 
completely blindfolded the eyes of ofhcers in the Forty- 
Second at first, and was allowed to open his saloon. By 
rendering little favors and trifling services to the officers 
he managed to keep in their good graces, and became 
intimate enough to borrow considerable sums of money 
from them, much of which was never repaid. He once 
got a loan from the hospital fund that created some 
trouble in the hospital by his not paying back the money 
at the stipulated time, thereby preventing the surgeons 
from obtaining those little extras they were in the habit of 
furnishing to their patients, until, by threats, Ellis was 
made to pay this borrowed amount. 

The building occupied for headquarters and hospital 
Ellis endeavored to make the officers believe belonged to 
him, as lessee of the grounds, although it was known his 
lease was void from non-fulfilment of its conditions on his 
part. On the departure of the regiment from Bayou 
Gentilly he presented a bill for rent of the building, at the 
rate of five hundred dollars a month, for the length of time 
it was occupied by the regiment, to Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stedman, for his approval. It was never approved. Why 
Ellis was allowed to remain inside of the regimental lines 
with his stock of bad liquors for sale was a mystery to 
those who had learned his character and saw what mis- 
chief he was doing. The surgeons were opposed to his 
being allowed there, and remonstrated against it, and 
Chaplain Sanger, who could not help seeing that not 
alone disease of the body but disease of the mind was 
one of the results sure to accrue from this sutler's shop, 
joined in the remonstrance. 

Two other liquor saloons on the road, in close proximity 
to the camp, were also doing mischief. Verbal orders 
were at one time given their proprietors not to sell liquor 



l62 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

to a soldier, on pain of having their stock demolished; 
but as no extra vigilance was exercised in detecting 
offences against the orders, they were not considered as of 
any account. 

February 4th, Privates Thomas Burns, John Nolan and 
Thomas Mathews, stragglers in New York from Company 
D, returned and were assigned to duty with Company E. 
On the eighteenth, Privates Greene and Luzardo, of Com- 
pany G, on duty with Company K, were detached and 
assigned to duty with Company E, and Private Joseph V. 
Col son, Company G, was assigned to Company E. Private 
Colson was a straggler in New York from the regiment. 
He had a varied experience on his trip to New Orleans. 
Reporting to the proper officer in New York, he was put 
aboard the ship Planter, with some two hundred other men 
belonging to various regiments of the Nineteenth Corps. 
The ship went upon the reefs at Grand Abeco Island, in 
the Bahama Channel, during good weather, about four 
o'clock in the morning. All hands were saved by the 
ship's boats, landing them upon the island, where they 
remained seventeen days, subsisting on pork and water 
saved from the wreck and shell fish obtained on the island. 
Finally a few wrecking schooners carried the troops to 
Key West, and from there they were sent to New Orleans 
to rejoin their several commands. Of the two hundred 
and fifty horses aboard, all were lost. The vast amount 
of medical stores and other property was mostly saved by 
wreckers ; some fifty wrecker sail were counted by Colson 
hovering about the ship in three days after going upon the 
reef. What was saved by these wreckers was taken to 
Nassau. Aboard the ship it was believed that the captain, 
a Southerner, purposely wrecked the vessel. Colson 
reported having a good time on the trip, but it seemed 
like home to him when he reached the re2:iment. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 63 

The only case in February before Major Stiles, for 
discipline, was that of Private James Minz, Company K, 
for disobedience of orders and using disrespectful lan- 
guage to his superior officer. Conviction and sentence 
followed, the sentence meeting the approval of the brigade 
commander, which was, to forfeit eight dollars a month of 
his pay to the United States for two months and to remain 
a prisoner at the guard tent for seven days, doing fatigue 
duty each day. 

A system of rocket signals was arranged between the 
brigade headquarters in New Orleans, the Gentilly Station 
and Lakeport. In case the enemy appeared at night upon 
the lake, three rockets at Lakeport, or in the city, was the 
signal for the regiment to get under arms and await orders 
fr^m the general commanding Defences of New Orleans. 
Several times the sentries mistook shooting stars for 
rockets, and raised alarms in the camp ; even the officers 
have been led at times to think these stars were signal 
rockets. They certainly did have that appearance when 
seen for a moment in the remarkable clear atmosphere 
prevailing during the early part of the night, just above 
tall trees of the swamp, and would be apt to mislead any 
person who was on the lookout for such signals. 

Among the several new sensations experienced at Bayou 
Gentilly were a few night alarms. Only those who have 
for the first time in a hostile country heard the drums 
beat to arms near the midnight hour can form any idea 
of the sensation it gives to a raw soldier. The heart 
beats quick ; he can feel his blood warming up ; every 
nerve is strung to the highest tension in anticipation of 
stirring events about to happen. 

The regiment, for several nights in succession, during 
February, was under arms for what, at the time, were 
thought to be good causes, but at a later period partook 



164 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

of the ludicrous and provoked a smile. The first alarm 
was started one night by Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, for 
the purpose of testing the guard in a knowledge of its 
duty. At a distance of about one-quarter of a mile from 
camp he fired his pistol some three or four times toward^ 
the camp and then quickly returned to his headquarters. 
The officer of the guard aroused the camp at once by 
causing the long roll to be beaten, and reported the cir- 
cumstances to the officer of the day, who proceeded to 
report to Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, and entered head- 
quarters a moment after his return. The regiment v/as 
always in line from five to ten minutes after a call to arms, 
ready to obey orders. 

On the occasion narrated a detachment of thirty men 
was sent down the road leading toward Fort Maconft), 
with orders to scour the plantations upon each side and 
ascertain the cause of firing. Sergeant-Major Bosson 
was fond of giving his experience on this, his first night 
on a scout. In detail he gave the peculiar feelings that 
came over him when prowling around and looking into 
every nook and corner of a ruined sugar-house, accom- 
panied by two men, expecting to find a body of armed 
men secreted there ; how he afterwards joined the detach- 
ment on the road, and then with another detail of two 
men searched plantations upon the left of the road as far 
down as the battery, where Lieutenant Burrell with his 
detachment was stationed, saving the life of a cow one of 
his companions mistook for a man dodging around among 
the swamp trees and made ready to fire at. 

A number of officers had with them patent-armored 
vests, that were sold extensively when the nine months 
troops were enlisting. Those iron-clad arrangements were 
put on with such alacrity at every night alarm that the 
officers who unfortunately owned them must have laughed 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 165 

when, at home safe and sound after their term of service 
expired, they thought over the dangers they passed through 
in Louisiana, especially at Bayou Gentilly. Some of the 
officers have slept at night with these iron cases on, and 
it came to be a fixed custom until the hot weather set in 
for owners of iron vests to don them when the regiment 
was under arms for any supposable emerg ncy, more for 
the purpose of making some use of them, or, as they 
jocosely remarked, "get their money's worth out of them 
at any rate." Officers who were in the Galveston action 
also had these iron vests. They were forgotten when 
trouble was expected and no use made of them. 

A private in Company F, a troublesome fellow and great 
shirk, endeavored to pass a sentinel without giving the 
■countersign on the night of February 14th. He was 
properly challenged but paid no attention to the call, 
^'Who goes there!" repeated a number of times, when 
the sentry, also a private of Company F, aimed his musket 
and fired at him for his temerity. The ball whistled by 
his head and passed through the hospital without damage. 
The fellow did not receive any sympathy, nor did he 
deserve any, and the fright given him was deemed suffi- 
cient punishment and warning not to repeat the blunder.* 

Quite a number of men in Company F were sick. Two 
of the cases baffled the surgeon's skill until it was decided, 
after an inspection of company quarters, that in these two 
cases signs and symptoms of scurvy was manifested, and 

♦Adjutant Davis had a similar adventure at this camp. A sentry challenged him 
•without receiving a reply, made ready and levelled his gun at him. The click of the 
trigger woke Davis from a reverie to instantly comprehend his situation and answer 
the challenge. This sentry acknowledged he recognized the adjutant, and yet main- 
tained he should have fired at him in a moment after taking aim. As Davis was 
inside the camp on official business, such action on the sentinel's part would not have 
been humane or proper, while it might have been justified. As he recognized his 
officer and thought, as he admits, that his challenge was not heard, to have stopped 
the adjutant at the point of his bayonet was sufficient. ' 



1 66 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

fresh meat in place of " salt horse " ought to be provided. 
The brigade quartermaster was unable to fill a requisition 
for fresh meat, while the camp was serenaded night and 
day by constant tinkling of a hundred cow-bells, attached 
to as many cows. The idea of going without fresh meat 
when it was needed, with a herd of cattle within reach, 
was more than the officers could stand, and a council was 
held at regimental headquarters. The result was, Captain 
Cogswell received authority to take some of his men, who 
understood how to slaughter and dress cattle, and go to 
work that night. 

The party consisted of Major Stiles, Captain Cogswell, 
Sergeant-Major Bosson, Sergeant B. A. Bottomley, Cor- 
poral Sylvander Bothwell, Privates Harvey Allen (company 
cook), George Mann and Charles Sanderson, of Company 
F. They selected a fine animal, placed a rope around her 
horns with difficulty, and dragged the cow towards a grove 
of trees, selected as a proper place to dress her. Every- 
thing was done in a workmanlike manner, as the butchers 
knew their business, and after the fresh beef was carried 
upon a confiscated ladder to the regimental quartermaster's 
depot all hands returned to Company F's quarters, to 
partake of broiled steak and liver, cooked by Harvey 
Allen about one o'clock in the morning. 

Not satisfied with this supply of beef. Lieutenant 
Harding and men from his company (Company K) again 
made a raid on the herd of cattle shortly after and 
slaughtered cow number two, without authority. In this 
case the hide and entrails were buried in the swamp, while 
Captain Cogswell's butchers threw the head, hide and 
entrails into a well of water used by the cattle, near the 
paroled camp. No one supposed these cows would be 
missed, until the owner appeared and made inquiries about 
them. He was not satisfied with his reception in the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 67 

camp, proceeding to prowl around to ascertain where 
they were. His attention was attracted to the well of 
water, where all that remained of cow number one had 
been placed, by the moaning of several head of cattle 
that Stood near smelling of the water and tearing up the 
turf with their feet, when a hundred men of the regiment, 
who had been watching him with curiosity from the camp 
line, saw the owner fish out the head and hide with 
a long pole. 

He then made complaint to the provost-marshal in New 
Orleans, who invited the regimental officers to explain. 
In order to prevent an unpleasant inquiry the affair was 
settled by the officers making up a purse of about three 
hundred dollars to pay the owner's claim ; this fresh meat 
costing them dear in the end. No cattle were molested 
afterwards. 

Before Assistant-Surgeon Smith, Twenty-Sixth Massa- 
chusetts, was relieved from charge of the hospital a curious 
case came under his care, ending in a manner discreditable 
to him. Private Francis N. Prout}^, Company F, was sick 
in hospital with malarial fever. No one thought the case 
serious until, one morning, Surgeon Smith came into the 
headquarters office excited and breathless, reporting Prouty 
as dying. Word was sent to Captain Cogswell and his 
company officers, who at once repaired to the sick-room, 
accompanied by Chaplain Sanger and several others, to 
witness the dying scene. There Prouty lay upon his cot, 
with head and shoulders bolstered up by pillows, breathing 
short and quick, no sign of death in his face, that had an 
intelligent look, and his eyes their natural appearance. 
The other patients in the room were resting upon elbows 
on their cots watching Prouty with wondering eyes, as the 
solemn procession filed in and took positions near the 
supposed dying man. While the surgeon kept one hand 



l68 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

upon the patient's pulse, Chaplain Sanger offered a fervent 
prayer in his behalf that only served to produce a look of 
wonder in Prouty's eyes, that appeared to say, what in the 
devil is this all about? He did not die, and afterwards 
said, had no intention of doing so, to please any one. 
The whole scene ended, after waiting about half an hour, 
in the solemn procession retiring from his side, pleased to 
find that the end was not to come, and somewhat mad 
with the surgeon for his opinion on the case. Smith had 
not been considered a surgeon of any skill before this 
event, and this case served to deepen the distrust of his 
ability. 

During February New Orleans was alive with army 
officers and men, on furlough and without leave, indulging 
in all sorts of wild dissipation. The evil became so great 
that special orders were issued by General Banks to 
General Sherman to stop it. Stringent orders relative to 
passes, rigidly enforced, soon put an end to this demoraliz- 
ing conduct. Another source of trouble was the presence 
of large negro contraband camps in the vicinity of the 
city, requiring other stringent orders to be issued for their 
government, and regulating the behavior of soldiers towards 
them. In January the ladies in New Orleans had showii 
a disposition to indulge in petty insults to soldiers whoni 
they met on the streets, and caused a circular, date( 
January 13th, to be issued, which put a stop to much oi 
this silly nonsense, but did not do away with it entirely. 
The circular read as follows : 

** Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 

''New Orleans, January 13th, 1863. 

*' Notice is hereby given by the commanding general o: 

this Department that offensive personal demonstrations, bj 

language or conduct of any character, by persons of an] 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 69 

class whatever, with the intention of giving personal 
offence, or tending to disturb the public peace, are for- 
bidden, and will be punished with relentless severity. 
Parents will be held responsible for the respectful conduct 
of their children, and prompt measures will be taken to 
fasten upon the proper parties any act of this character. 
All persons who may be witnesses to such conduct, are 
directed, as a measure of public peace, to give informa- 
tion thereof to the provost-marshal, or at these head- 
quarters. 

*' By command of 

"MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS. 
'* Richard B. Irwin, 
"Z/V«/-G?/., Assistafit Adj uta7it- General. ^^ 

^ Brigade drills under Colonel Farr, and a brigade review 
and inspection, by Brigadier-General Sherman, commanding 
division, were had while at Gentilly Bayou. The brigade 
drills were interesting, and considering the short time 
most of the regiments had been in service were quite 
satisfactory. Three drills were all this brigade ever had, 
on account of its being posted over a large extent of 
ground, and at posts that could not be left exposed by 
gathering the men together for such a purpose. 

It was the custom to leave camp at eight a.m. on brigade 
drill days, in light marching order, as a march had to be 
made of about three miles to the drill ground. The 
weather would be hot and sun very scorching ; on one 
drill only did the weather prove treacherous, and then the 
regiment was caught in a thunder shower. After several 
hours devoted to drill, and then a march back to camp 
with but short intervals for rest during the time, no rations 
in haversacks to make a dinner from, when the regiment 



lyo HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

arrived in camp, usually about half-past three to four 
o'clock in the afternoon, the men would be thirsty, hungry, 
hot and dusty. While such service may not be equal to a 
day's march in an active campaign, yet for the regiment 
to perform it with so few men falling out of the ranks 
from fatigue, as was the case, shows what good material for 
service composed the regiment. 

These drills were not without their attendant scenes 
and excitements. Crowds of negroes, of both sexes, would 
hover around the ground to hear the bands of music 
and witness the evolutions. Colonel Farr would fre- 
quently lose his temper and damn both officers and men ; 
Colonel Marsh, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts VolunteerSy 
particularly meriting the displeasure of the brigade com- 
mander, and received many of that officer's choice remarks. 
Colonel Marsh was not a military man. The way in 
which he managed to twist his regiment around, mix the 
companies up and the brigade also, caused more laughter 
among the men than any other incident. It was amusing 
to see the expression of wonder on the face of Colonel 
Marsh when his regiment would be out of place, with the 
brigade standing at ease, waiting for him to place the 
regiment where it belonged, and Colonel Farr, accom- 
panied by his entire staff, coming up at a full gallop to 
know " What in h — 11 is the matter now ? " Captain 
" Ned " Bird, Company I, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts, 
acting as major, would always have to give the correct 
orders that brought his regiment into proper position. 

At a brigade drill which took place on the twenty-sixth 
of February, the new colors, which had been sent to the 
regiment by Governor Andrew, to replace those lost at 
Galveston, were unfurled and carried in the ranks for the 
first time. This second set of regimental colors never 
trembled from the whistle of bullets or fluttered amid 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 171 

smoke from powder during the term of service. They 
were seldom used, consequently on the return home of the 
regiment they looked new, bright colored and clean, as 
though fresh from the designer's hand. 

Brigadier-General Sherman impressed an observer very 
favorably. He was a regular army officer, familiar with all 
details of the service, courteous in manner towards all 
officers — a thorough soldier and gentleman. When inspect- 
ing the brigade assembled for a drill, February 19th, on 
reaching the Forty-Second, in position for inspection, he 
noticed the regimental colors were missing. He sharply 
called the attention of Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to the 
fact, and when informed they had been lost at Galveston 
his tone of voice quickly changed ; lifting his hat he 
replied : " I beg your pardon, colonel." There is no 
importance attached to this incident, except that it showed 
the thoroughbred officer, and made quite an impression on 
those near enough to hear the conversation, engendering 
a feeling that here was an officer to be trusted, and his 
orders could be obeyed with confidence. Not many 
volunteer officers display such tact and discrimination. 

During February the following additional changes by 
detail occurred : Private Martin Proctor, Company F, was 
made steward for the field and staff officers' mess at 
regimental headquarters ; on that duty until relieved in 
July in consequence of sickness. 

February 2nd — Private Henry E. Putnam, Company E, 
was detailed as clerk at brigade headquarters by brigade 
orders, where he remained until July, and then returned 
to his company. 

February i8th — Private Edward J. Worcester, Com- 
pany E, was made regimental armorer, a position he held 
until his term of service expired, vice Private Loud, 
detailed to assist Lieutenant Pease. 



172 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

February i8th — Company K left the regiment to act as 
pontoniers to the Nineteenth Army Corps. 

February 25th — Captain Cogswell, Company F, ap- 
pointed as corporals George L. Stone and Sylvander 
Bothwell, in place of C. H. Woodcock and E. A. Spooner, 
who preferred to join the regimental band. 

At the close of February there were present for duty in 
the four companies at Gentilly Bayou, and Company K, 
in New Orleans, twenty officers and four hundred and 
twenty-five men. Present sick in hospital, seventeen men. 
The average sick per day of the regiment during February 
was : taken sick, five ; returned to duty, five ; in hospital, 
fourteen ; in quarters, eleven. Two men were sent to 
general hospitals in New Orleans. Surgeon Hitchcock 
returned to duty on the twenty-fourth, relieving Surgeon 
Smith, and Surgeon Heintzelman reported for duty 
March ist. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 17^ 



CHAPTER VII. 

Enlisted Men Prisoners at Houston — March for 
THE Federal Lines — Arrival at New Orleans. 

THE rank and file of the Forty-Second, with captured 
sailors of the Harriet La?te, were confined in a 
cotton press, situated in close proximity to Buffalo Bayou. 
The officers were quartered in the third story of Kennedy's 
brick building, upon one of the streets not far from the 
cotton press. 

While in Houston the men received good treatment and 
were allowed a furlough in the city every day, four men at 
a time, under guard. Their officers were allowed to visit 
them frequently, and cheering words, coupled with good 
advice, was not wanting. The food furnished was the 
same as issued to Confederate soldiers, consisting of corn 
meal, rice, sugar, dried and fresh beef, corn coffee, and 
occasionally a small supply of salt. The coarse ground 
corn meal was baked and made into what was called corn- 
dodger, to take the place of the Federal ration of hard 
bread. Until General Magruder left Houston, when the 
ration was taken away, the officers were favored with 
extra rations of flour. A German baker, formerly of 
Roxbury, Mass., was found, who took this flour in ex- 
change for bread. Diarrhoea and dysentery were quite 
prevalent under this diet and a change of water, with 
sudden, sharp changes of weather that occurred, from 
warm to cold, and vice versa. 

Surgeon Cummings, whose ability was acknowledged at 



174 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

all times by the Confederate officers, was, for a time, given 
his parole of honor, and assisted in taking care of the 
wounded and sick. Federals and Confederates. It was 
asserted that many of the Confederate wounded would 
not allow their own surgeons to attend them, preferring 
the care of Surgeon Cummings, in whose honor be it said, 
friend or foe, who needed his services, shared alike. 

A jolly, social set of men, who made everything pleasant 
as possible, composed the guard — a dismounted company 
of cavalry, known as Captain Clipper's company. Their 
discipline and' drill was very, very crude, and often a 
subject of comment and amusement to the prisoners, who 
heartily enjoyed the ceremony of guard-mounting as done 
by this company ; soldiers continually chewing tobacco, 
spitting the juice freely, talking with each other, and 
laughing all through the parade. The unsoldier-like 
conduct and poor quality of Sibley's men, and the entire 
Confederate force under General Magruder, was a noted 
fact throughout the State : poorly armed and equipped, 
indifferently officered, without honor, discipline, or esprit de 
corps. After the fight at Galveston, Magruder issued an 
order to his command calling attention to these facts, 
entreating them to reform and be true soldiers, reciting, 
as an example of what well-disciplined, efficient troops 
could accomplish, the stubborn defence of Kuhn's Wharf 
by the Forty-Second Massachusetts Volunteers. 

The prisoners busied themselves with card playing, 
singing, making little trinkets from bones left from their 
meat, and in various other ways ; selling their bone trinkets 
in large numbers to the ladies and others of Houston at 
good prices in Confederate money, which was used to buy 
what extras for food they could purchase. Many of the 
inhabitants would gather in the vicinity of the cotton press 
to obtain a glimpse at the northern barbarians, as the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 175 

prisoners were termed ; people from the country for miles 
around came to Houston for this purpose. It is related 
for a fact, by a sergeant who overheard the conversation, 
that a little girl who had been brought by her mother to 
see them, said to her : '' Why, mother, they haven't got 
any horns ; you said they had ! " This was about the idea 
Texan people had of northern troops at the time. 

Previous to leaving Houston positive information was 
obtained relative to the fate of Amos and Revaleon. They 
had been sold as slaves to Texan planters, bringing some- 
where near five hundred dollars each. They were bright, 
intelligent colored lads, cousins, fascinated with camp life, 
and notwithstanding the bitter opposition of their parents 
were determined to see service in the army in some capacit}^, 
finally prevailing upon the surgeon and quartermaster to 
take them as servants. Revaleon was owned by several 
masters, receiving good treatment, until at last he was 
taken for a servant by Major Leon Smith, who intended 
to send him into the Federal lines if he ever got near 
enough to do so. A few colored men that were in the 
Harriet Lane crew did not fare so well, suffering harsh 
treatment by being treated as convicts, with incarceration 
in the State Prison at Huntsville. All were released at 
the close of the war and came home in the summer 
of 1865. 

Orders were issued at five o'clock on the morning of 
January 2 2d for the men to be ready to move at ten 
o'clock. Permission was given the captains to visit their 
companies and bid them good-by. Captains Savage and 
Sherive did so. Captain Savage said a few words of 
regret at the necessary separation, and was expressing his 
fervent wishes for their future safety and prosperity when 
obliged to stop short, his feelings having completely 
unmanned him. Captain Sherive was full of fight, and 



176 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

exhorted them to pitch in and " give them h — 11 " when- 
ever exchanged and again armed. Colonel Burrell (who 
was refused the privilege of seeing his men) and the 
other officers, after an interview with the orderly-sergeants 
at officers' quarters, sent by them a farewell to the 
companies. 

Delays occurred in the preparations, and it was two 
o'clock in the afternoon before the men fell into line for 
roll-call, proceeding at once, after repeated cheers for the 
officers were given, to the depot, where platform cars with 
seats built upon them were in readiness. With a good- 
by to the guard a start was made about six o'clock for 
Beaumont. 

The following sick and wounded men were left behind, 
not able to stand the fatigue and exposure of the journey r 
Private Edwin F. Josselyn, Company D, wounded ; Private 
Francis L. Morrill, Company D, wounded ; Private James 
O'Shaughnessy, Company D, wounded ; Corporal Henry 
W. Mcintosh, Company D, sick ; Private Dennis Dailey, 
Company D, sick ; Sergeant David L. Wentworth, Com- 
pany G, wounded ; Private Joseph W. D. Parker, Company 
G, wounded ; Private Joseph W. McLaughlin, Company I,. 
sick, returned to Houston from Beaumont ; Private Samuel 
R. Hersey, Company C, remained with the colonel ; 
Citizen Frank Veazie, cook to officers' mess, remained 
with the colonel. 

Corporal Mcintosh, suffering with diarrhoea, was so 
weak he had to be supported by two soldiers when led 
out to say good-by to his comrades he never expected to 
see again, and never did. 

At first General Magruder intimated his intention to 
march the men across Texas to the Red or Mississippi 
Rivers. Such a march was condemned by prominent 
officers in his Department as certain death to a large 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 77 

number, and transportation was furnished for part of the 
way. It was stated in a boastful manner by the guards 
and citizens, that few would live to reach the Federal lines. 
This may have been mere boasting and only an expression 
of what they wished would occur, for the condition of the 
country passed over, and hardships endured by the men, 
were in no measure to be compared to what they had been 
led to expect by the representations of these parties, and 
it may safely be said their enemies were ignorant of what 
would have to be encountered. 

With enlisted men and Chaplain Sanger, of the Forty- 
Second Regiment, were the sailors of the Harriet Lcme, 
Assistant- Surgeon Thomas N. Penrose, Paymaster R. 
Julius Richardson, and the third assistant-engineers of 
that vessel, who had been allowed to go upon a claim 
made by all the captured officers, that these officers 
^were non-combatants and could not be classed as com- 
missioned officers. Considerable argument had to be 
used before the Confederate officials were made to acknowl- 
edge the point and let them go. 

There was one smart affair managed successfully by a 

few warrant officers of the Forty-Second that saved the 

life of Andrew Romain, a Texan refugee, who was 

smuggled through as a member of the regiment with 

, great difficulty, and when detection was almost certain. 

Romain, who formerly had lived in one of the New 

England States, was at the head of a little band of 

refugees who quartered on Kuhn's Wharf under protection 

ji of the naval guns, and was of great benefit to the fleet 

I before land forces arrived as a spy, from his intimate 

I! acquaintance with the inhabitants and country in the 

I immediate vicinity of Galveston. His person, character, 

I and the service he rendered United States officers was 

well known to the Confederate leaders, hence he was a 



1/8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

marked man. Of medium size, he wore an immense 
black beard of great length, almost covering his face to 
the eyes, and up to the time of surrender wore citizen's 
clothes. 

After the surrender, and when names of prisoners were 
taken by the Confederate officers, Romain was not to be 
seen, and it was surmised by the boys he had escaped to 
the fleet. By some lucky chance he had safely hid away, 
until, at a favorable moment, he joined the ranks on the 
march through Galveston towards Virginia Point, clad in 
a blue army blouse, buttoned close to the neck, covering 
the long, tiowing part of his beard, wearing a fatigue cap, 
and with knapsack upon his shoulders. On arrival at 
Houston he was partly shaved by Sergeant Frye, Company 
D, who left him with whiskers of the mutton-chop style. 
Each successive shave was improved to alter the style of 
cut to the hair upon his face. A sailor from the Harriet 
Lane assisted at times in these tonsorial duties. 

Shortly after arriving in Houston the Confederate 
officers began to inquire after Romain, their actions 
indicating they suspected he was among the prisoners. 

A great difiiculty to overcome was passing him through 
the roll-calls, as Confederate officers attended these calls 
of names, which were made one company at a time. 
Romain would dodge from one company in line, ready for 
roll-call, to the ranks of a company whose roll-call was 
over, assisted in this by various devices of those most 
active in getting him through, and managed with success 
for some time in this way. Feeling confident he was 
among the prisoners, a last effort was made to detect him 
when the men were ready to march for the depot. 

The companies were separately ordered into line, out- 
side of quarters ; as each name was called the man 
stepped to the front and had his name checked. Romain, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 79 

who saw that his chances to get off with the rest were 
very slim, prudently remained in the building, and the 
rolls were found correct. Company G had passed out of 
the gate, leaving the other companies inside, when Ser- 
geant Phil. Hackett obtained permission to go into the 
quarters for some few things he stated were left there, 
and in a short time came out followed by Remain, whom 
he rated soundly with abuse and curses for having left the 
ranks to go back to quarters without leave. On his 
approach towards Confederate Lieutenant Todd, who 
stood at the gate, Romain was the picture of a devil-may- 
care sort of man, pufhng away at a large pipe, with a 
broom thrown over his shoulder. Lieutenant Todd sharply 
asked why he was there, and Romain replied that Sergeant 
Goodrich had sent him back to get a broom to sweep the 
cars, because they were covered with charcoal dust. Todd 
asked his name, and Romain gave one suggested to him 
by Hackett. Calling for Sergeant Goodrich, Todd in- 
quired who he had sent back, the Sergeant answering 
with the same name that Romain used, for Hackett and 
Goodrich were acting in concert. Examining the roll 
of Company G the name was found, and Romain was 
ordered to " get out of here." 

The whole thing was so neatly planned and carried out 
by the two sergeants that the Confederates were completely 
hoodwinked, and Romain got off with the prisoners. 
After leaving Houston it was easy work to pass him along. 

He left a wife and child at Galveston, who probably 
thought him dead. He was able to give valuable informa- 
tion to General Banks regarding Texas, and Andrew 
Romain was afterwards in the secret service corps of the 
Gulf Department. He was a brave man. It required 
uncommon fortitude to bear up under the constant dread 
of capture which must have haunted him, as death was 



l8o HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

certain were he discovered. From the fact that Romain 
was armed with a revolver, furnished by some friendly- 
hand, it is surmised, if discovered, he would have sold his 
life dearly, if not contemplating suicide rather than fall 
into Confederate hands. A man of quiet reserve, seldom 
making any conversation with others, it was thought by 
the paroled men he had no gratitude for the assistance 
rendered by them, because he never expressed any. When 
Phil. Hackett was buried at Gentilly Camp, Romain was 
present, and his presence at those last sad rites is good 
proof he was grateful for what had been done to save him. 

The train left Houston with a speed of about four miles 
an hour, crossing San Jacinto Bayou at midnight, not 
reaching Beaumont until four o'clock in the afternoon 
next day — distance eighty-three miles by rail. This was a 
tiresome ride for it rained all night, rendering sleep 
impossible, besides the charcoal dust upon the cars 
became wet, and in the shifting and turning about hands 
would get covered with it ; these same hands were often 
applied to faces, and in the morning the men were a 
sidit to behold. As the locomotive could not draw the 
entire train at once, sections were taken and run until a 
siding was reached, when the engine would go back for 
the remaining cars. There appeared to be plenty of 
cattle in sight grazing on the prairie lands through which 
the railroad ran, and this was also noticed to be the case 
on the trip from Galveston to Houston. 

At Beaumont the men remained until the twenty-ninth, 
awaiting the return of a steamboat that had preceded 
them with baggage, horses, beef cattle, commissary stores, 
and wagons brought from Houston, to be used on the 
march to Alexandria. Occupying several abandoned shan- 
ties near Drake's Bayou, the time was made to pass quickly 
by various expedients. Pigs were plenty in the neighbor- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. l8l 

hood, SO that pork was not a kixury, four or five being 
killed each day, the owners not missing them. They were 
caught by the lassoing process from a trap-door in an 
old blacksmith shop, underneath which they congregated. 
Wild mules were also plenty, whose backs the soldiers 
and sailors did not miss any opportunity to ride, affording 
great amusement to spectators by their antics. 

Finally the steamer Roe Buck arrived, and a start was 
made at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon down the 
narrow Neches River to Sabine Bay; proceeding up the 
Sabine River, at daylight on the thirtieth, the steamer tied 
up at Novell's Bluff, Louisiana, for a short time, and then 
proceeded to Morgan's Bluff to remain over night, arriving 
there at half-past six o'clock in the afternoon. 

After wooding-up the trip was resumed early next 
morning on the crooked and narrow river, lined with 
forests upon either bank, causing the boys to keep a sharp 
lookout, as the boat would often snap limbs off the trees 
to fall upon the deck. At six o'clock in the afternoon a 
stop was made at Possum Bluff for the night. Here the 
men had to use fence rails, near at hand, for fuel to cook 
rations, as all of the cut wood was required for the boat. 

The boat steamed along, with occasional stops to take 
in wood and tie up each night, until half-past four o'clock 
in the afternoon, February 4th, when the journey by boat 
was over, on arriving at Burr's Ferry Landing. The 
weather had been cloudy, rainy and cold almost the 
entire trip, creating great inconvenience to the men, who 
were obliged to use rubber and woollen blankets to stop 
rain-water leaks in their sleeping-places. Several were 
quite sick. Private David Chapin, Company I, nineteen 
years old, died at night, February 2d, at quarter-past 
eleven, when the boat was stopped at Starks' Ferry 
Landing, Newton County, Texas. Chapin was not well 



l82 



when he left Houston, and was down with intermittent 
fever in a few days. After breakfast, on the third, a beau- 
tiful spot in the woods, under cypress and pine trees, was 
selected for a grave. The funeral took place at half-past 
nine o'clock in the morning, with three volleys fired over 
the remains by the guard, as poor Chapin, in a rough- 
made coffin, the best his comrades could make, was 
lowered into the grave. 

At Burr's Landing the prisoners went into bivouac in a 
pine grove about one-half a mile from the river. To make 
a shelter from the cold, northerly winds, some men made 
tents with rubber blankets ; others built shanties made of 
bushes, pine boughs and such other material as they could 
gather, in a manner peculiar only to the " Yankee " soldier. 
All hands had washed their flannels during the fifth, 
leaving them out over night to dry, to find them frozen 
stiff the next morning, and a white frost covering the 
ground. 

Private Henry C. Sellea, Company D, had been sick on 
board the boat for four days with intermittent fever, and, 
as his case seemed hopeless, arrangements were made by 
his comrades to remove him to a farm house owned and 
occupied by Mrs. Burr, who came from Springfield, Mass., 
where he would be sure to receive the best of care. This 
was accomplished at two o'clock on the afternoon of the 
sixth ; but poor Sellea, only nineteen years old, died at 
five o'clock P.M. the next day. 

As in the case of Private Chapin, a rough coffin was 
made by his comrades, the burial services taking place at 
eleven o'clock a.m. on the eighth, with Privates Charles G. 
Weymouth, Daniel L. Weymouth, R. P. Mosely and Henry 
Fisk acting as pall bearers. The grave was in Mrs. Burr's 
private burying ground, where the boys sang " There will 
be no more sorrow there," and the guard fired the cus- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 83 

tomary volleys. A neat head-board, with name, age, 
company and regiment inscribed thereon, was placed on 
both graves. 

Chapin and Sellea were delirious the last days of their 
life, not recognizing anybody. Every attention possible 
was paid to them by the members of their companies, and 
if the sympathy of their fellow soldiers could have saved 
them they would not have died. These two deaths were 
the only losses suffered on the trip, but several laid 
the foundation for diseases, which subsequently carried 
them to their graves. 

Orders were issued on the eighth to be ready to com- 
mence the march for Alexandria at four o'clock a.ini. on 
the ninth. Extra rations were given out to the cooks, who 
were at work all night attending to cooking. Mess kettles 
were few in number, and the practice on the entire trip, 
either on board boat or on the march, was to detail each 
night four men to cook until midnight, relieved by 
four men from that hour until daylight. The rations 
consisted of corn meal, pork, and fresh beef killed 
about every day, with such vegetables as the boys could 
forage, or buy from the few inhabitants living near the 
route of march. 

The Confederate guard consisted of thirty men from 
the Fourth Texas Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant W. 
J. Howerton, a pompous, overbearing individual, without 
military knowledge or manners. On the march the enlisted 
men were mounted upon Texas mustang ponies, tolerably 
well armed and equipped, but without drill or discipline. 
At any time they could have been overpowered by the 
prisoners. The guard w-ere well disposed and well be- 
haved towards their prisoners with a few exceptions ; one 
private, a large, fat, red-headed man, whose looks was 
enough to condemn him to be a coward, was very bitter 



184 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

in speech and treatment of the men. In turn, the pris- 
oners neglected no opportunity to work him up by 
badinage, partaking more of a sacrilegious tone than 
the chaplain thought w^s proper. 

With the exception of a few fights among themselves 
to settle old scores, and retaliating in kind for any taunts 
made by members of the guard, the conduct of the 
prisoners was good. Lieutenant Howerton had his good 
and ill-natured days. At one place where a halt was made 
for the night some of the prisoners obtained permission to 
get food and lodging in a so-called tavern, neglecting in 
the morning to pay for the accommodation. This neglect 
put the lieutenant in a rage, when the landlord complained 
about it. Previous to this occurrence the men had been 
allowed to march in disorder, but on forming column that 
morning the lieutenant ordered column of fours, and made 
a speech from his saddle, the substance being, that a 
citizen of the Confederate States, whom one of his own 
men would not dare to wrong, had been grossly insulted 
by some "scabs" of Northern soldiers. He had given 
orders that the march that day would be in column of 
fours, and any man who straggled from that formation of 
column would be shot down or cut down, "by G — d." 
One of the sailors slyly shouted s-h-o-w, when the enraged 
lieutenant rose in his stirrups and yelled : " I'll show 
yer ! " swinging his sabre over his head to suit action to 
his words. Several men did get struck for not obeying 
the orders, although none w'ere seriously hurt. This did 
not help Howerton, in the estimation of the boys. 

No tents were carried, and the men were obliged to 
sleep in the open air, through fair or foul weather. No 
rivers were in their path, but several swamps had to be 
passed, one of them while a heavy rain-storm was in 
progress. The train, in charge of a w^agoner, consisted of 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 185 

four wagons, each drawn by six mule teams. The feed for 
horses and mules was chiefly wild sugar-cane. 

Doctor Penroes acted as surgeon for everybody when 
he could obtain medicines, for the escort carried none. 
He attended Chapin and Sellea, doing the best in his 
power, travelling some miles to obtain a supply of medi- 
cine to treat their cases. The sick had to suffer and get 
along as best they could ; those very sick were taken in 
the wagons, while the men who did not feel strong enough 
to be encumbered by the weight of a knapsack, but able 
to march when not encumbered, could purchase from the 
guard the privilege of stowing away what they wished ir; 
the wagons. Frequently a ride upon the ponies belonging 
to good-natured men of the guard was to be had by 
parting with some article of value to them, as the Texans 
were always ready to trade or steal when they could. A 
Sergeant Bradford is said by the boys to have been a 
"tip-top fellow." 

The story of the march cannot be described in a more 
interesting manner than is given by Sergeant Waterman, 
Company D, in his diary, and the same is presented here : 

" February 9th — Breakfast at five a.m. At six o'clock 
formed line, and one half an hour later commenced the 
march for the day from Burr's Ferry. The first eight 
miles were done without a halt, over a good road, through 
a heavily-timbered country. Hard pine, very large and 
tall, some one hundred feet high to the limbs. After we 
started again from a rest, we went through a swamp about 
three miles in length, timbered with beach, magnolia and 
other trees, and at noon halted, after making eleven miles. 
On this halt killed and dressed two beeves. Marched 
again about two miles through swamps and then came to 
higher ground with pine trees again, large and straight, as 
before. At six o'clock p.m. arrived at a place called 



l86 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Huddleston and went into bivouac for the night, with the 
boys about played out after marching eighteen miles, and 
after lying still about two months. 

"February loth — Started at seven o'clock a.m. footsore 
and weary, with the sky looking like rain. At noon had 
marched seven miles. Dined on corn-dodger and beef ; 
some of the boys felt as if they had eaten so much beef 
they were ashamed to look a cow in the face. Weather 
became warm and pleasant. At half-past live o'clock p.m. 
halted for the night in a pine grove with a brook near by, 
at a little place with two houses and one cotton press, 
called Fifteen Mile Mill. 

"February nth — Started at half-past six a.m. and at 
eight o'clock met the mail — a man on horseback with a 
mail bag. It is trying to rain, but cannot make out very 
well. At noon it cleared off and a halt was made for 
dinner in a pine forest. Has been nearly all pine woods 
so far. Passed over a sandstone ledge this morning so 
soft that it could easily be broken in the hand. At three 
o'clock p. m. we were halted once more to rest and 
remain over night, as the march has badly blistered the 
feet of the boys. 

"February 12th — Rain commenced to fall at four 
o'clock A.M., raining hard until seven o'clock, when, 
slacking up some, we started again through a swamp 
seven miles long, with the water knee deep all the way. 
Had to stop in the rain for a bridge to be repaired, so 
that the wagons could pass. Passed Hineston, a village of 
three shanties and a pig-stye, at quarter-past ten, and at 
noon halted to cook a pot of mush for dinner, the rain 
spoiling all of the corn bread and meat. The mush 
tasted good, as we had very little breakfast. Are on high 
pine land with wild flowers in bloom. Put up for the 
night in a very pretty place with enough old shanties to 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 187 

hold all the men. Had to sit up until eleven o'clock try- 
ing to dry our clothes. 

"February 13th — Started at eight in the morning over 
a very good road for about three miles, and then came 
down on to what they call Red River bottom, composed 
of a red sand, clay and glue. Such walking was never 
seen. Passed by some very fine plantations, where the 
negroes were as happy as clams at high water, lining the 
fences and grinning like so many Cheshire cats. Halted 
near a bayou for dinner^ where, upon the opposite side, 
the mocking birds were singing. Sun came out and it is 
warm. The grass is green and looks like the last of May 
at home. Plenty of sheep and lambs all around. Passed 
through a hedge of rose bushes at least twenty feet high. 
We are in sight of Alexandria, and at seven p. m. went 
aboard the roomy steamer N'ezv Falls City, in time to escape 
the rain. 

"February 14th — A pleasant day. Boys feel somewhat 
sore. Heard yesterday that we might have to march two 
hundred miles more, but I told Lieutenant Howerton 
to-day that we could not do it any way, and he says we 
may not have to march more than twenty-five or thirty 
miles — perhaps none at all. At three p.m. it looks like 
a heavy shower; the clouds are black and threatening, 
with heavy thunder. The river is high and roily ; as we 
use it to cook with, the corn-dodger looks like a red sweet 
cake." 

Marching was over when the Red River was reached. 
The men had done well, bearing sickness, suffering and 
fatigue without a murmur; obeying the orders of Sergeants 
Waterman, Goodrich and Hunt (who were in command of 
Companies D, G and I, respectively), with commendable 
zeal, excepting in one instance when Private Fitzallen 
Gourley, Company D, defied the authority of Sergeant 



165 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Waterman, who had placed him upon a working detail of 
men while at Beaumont, and obliged the sergeant to report 
the case to the Confederate lieutenant, who threatened to 
return Gourley to Houston, and place him in jail, before he 
would yield. 

That part of the country covered by the line of march 
was generally admired by the men, so different from any- 
thing to be seen at home, and their hrst sight at pine 
woods. Small villages on the route, considerable distance 
apart, with very few houses intervening, made it seem as 
though they were passing through a wilderness. The 
dense woods furnished an abundance of wood for cooking 
purposes, and torches for light at night. The few inhab- 
itants to be met were well-disposed, simple-minded, honest 
people. 

It was on Sunday, February 15th, that the Federal war 
steamer Qneeii of the Wesf, an inferior looking craft, having 
safely passed the Vicksburg batteries to play a flying-devil 
upon the Red River, gave the Confederates a great scare 
at Alexandria. The prisoners were ashore, when word 
came at four o'clock a. m. to be ready to start at any 
moment as the Federals were coming up river. After 
breakfast, at half-past six o'clock, all hands were hurried 
on board the steamer General Quitman^ and a race was 
run for about five miles, with the river behind them full of 
boats skedaddling in a perfect panic. In the afternoon 
the panic subsided, and at four o'clock, after news had 
been received that two Federal gunboats had been taken — 
the Queen of the West captured, and the De Soto aban- 
doned and burnt — all speed was made for Alexandria 
again, where mules and wagons were taken aboard. 

After starting down the river at daylight next day, the 
Queen was met during the morning in tow of a river steamer 
on her way to Alexandria for repairs. The crew of the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 89 

Queen iTad escaped to the gunboat De Soto by floating upon 
cotton bales, except five men who were noticed on shore, 
where a fire was started to obtain warmth, and were made 
prisoners. Everything went on quiet and smooth until 
passing three small one-gun batteries upon the right bank ; 
at half-past two o'clock p. m., because a signal to stop was 
not noticed, two rounds of grape-shot were fired at and 
almost into them. Shot flew thick all around the boat, 
fortunately hitting no one. Turning back, despatches for 
the Confederate officer in command were sent on board, 
causing a delay of half an hour before the trip was resumed, 
and continued until dark. About midnight, orders came 
from the lieutenant of the guard for all hands to turn out 
and help wood-up ship ; but his unbearable manner in 
giving his order roused the devil in them and they refused 
to do so. He threatened and swore, to no purpose, for 
the men remained obdurate. He had his revensre, how- 
ever, in not allowing the prisoners to draw rations next 
day until late in the afternoon, thus allowing them only 
one meal in twenty-four hours. 

On the seventeenth, early in the morning, while pro- 
ceeding up river again in wake of three other steamers, 
all making fast time, the subject of seizing the transport- 
boat was again broached by sailors anxious and ready to 
try it. While on their way down the Neches River to 
Sabine Lake, a seizure of the boat then was talked over 
by the warrant officers in command of companies, but was 
abandoned from a want of knowledge where to go after 
obtaining possession. Upon the Red River there did not 
exist so favorable circumstances for success as there was 
at Sabine Lake. At the latter place they would have had 
to pass down the lake to Sabine Pass, and by a fort com- 
manding the channel, before reaching the blockading 
vessels. Stratagem could have effected this purpose, but 



190 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

upon the Red River Confederate gunboats held the river 
to the Mississippi after the Qtteeii of the West and De Soto 
were lost by the Federals. To have passed the enemy's 
boats by deceit, or otherwise, would have been impossible. 
Frequent consultations of the men concerned in the plot 
failed to develop any plan of action all would give co- 
operation, and the attempt was wisely abandoned. 

After remaining over night above the three batteries 
before mentioned waiting the return of a courier, sent to 
Alexandria early in the evening for orders, at noon a trans- 
port-boat came alongside with a detachment of two hundred 
and seventy-eight men, Eighth Infantry, United States 
Regulars, who had been basely surrendered in Texas, by 
General Twiggs, May 9th, 1861, on the commencement of 
hostilities between the North and South, and been retained 
in close confinement up to this time. Five or six of the 
men had their wives with them ; one with a family of two 
children. 

A day or two after these prisoners arrived on board, one 
of the women got into a wordy warfare with a private of 
the guard, who was abusive in speech and manner. The 
Confederate soldier had said to the woman that if she was 
only a man he would shoot her, when a private of the 
Eighth Regulars, who could stand it no longer, made the 
quarrel a personal one with himself, calling the Confederate 

a d n coward, and offered to go ashore for a fight with 

any weapon he would name. To this bold challenge the 
Confederate interposed an objection, that he could not 
fight with a prisoner of war. Our " bold soger boy" said : 
" That need not interfere ; I will fight you with pistols, ten 
paces apart, right here." Nothing but sneers were given 
in reply by the soldier and his comrades of the guard, who 
had clustered around. In return the United States soldier 
taunted them all with beino: cowards, offering; to ii^ht the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. I9I 

crowd in any fashion they chose, without effect ; they 
finally slunk away. The women were not molested after- 
wards. 

All of the prisoners were conditionally paroled on the 
eighteenth and nineteenth, and a flag of truce raised upon 
the boat, with the intention of proceeding to Vicksburg. 
Horses, mules and wagons were sent ashore, but a start 
was not made until the twenty-third, on account of trouble 
experienced in obtaining wood. There was a dispute on 
the twenty-first, between the officer of the prisoners' guard 
and officers upon the steamer Grand Era, in regard to 
wood that had been supplied the flag of truce boat by the 
steamer La-Fourche in the morning, resulting finally in a 
compromise, allowing the Grand Era to have one-half of 
what was on board. Pistols were drawn amid a general 
cursing match in the altercation, and at one time a fight 
was imminent between the two factions. Just as the wood 
was gone the Grand Duke came alongside searching for 
the same article, but left without obtaining any. 

At last, during the evening of the twenty-second, a boat 
load of sixty cords was received, about half enough for 
one day's consumption, for the General QuiUnan used from 
ninety to one hundred and ten cords each twenty-four 
hours, when the boat steamed down river at daylight next 
day. After stopping at a wood pile to take on about one 
hundred cords more, a final start was made for Port Hud- 
son, instead of Vicksburg as first intended, passing Fort 
De Russy during the day, when Remain was able to rough 
sketch the work. The Mississippi River was reached at 
half-past two p. m., and at the sunset hour a high bluff, 
lined with cannon and men, was dimly discernible, on 
account of the thick misty rain storm prevailing, which 
the guard called Port Hudson. 

Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth the prisoners 



192 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

were turned over to Federal naval officers, who sent them 
and the General Quitman to Baton Rouge, where they 
landed and were made comfortable, glad to be once more 
within the Federal lines. Lieutenant Howerton received 
a torrent of abuse as the paroled men left his boat, after 
revenge prompted them to throw overboard all movable 
property they could find upon the steamer, without any 
attention to Howerton's request: "Now, gentlemen, please 
stop." The red-headed soldier of his command did not 
dare to show his ugly face, for the prisoners wanted to 
thrash him. Several negroes were on the river shores, 
above Alexandria, when the sight of blue-coated soldiers 
upon the Quitman conveyed an idea to them that the 
Federals occupied the river. They shouted and sang for 
" Massa Linkum's sogers" — "take us wid yer" — in a 
manner that upset the temper of Lieutenant Howerton, 
who ordered his men ashore to capture them. They were 
brought aboard and made to attend boiler fires until reach- 
ing Port Hudson, when they stole a boat belonging to the 
Quitman and made their escape. 

Cloudy, or rainy and cold weather had been experienced 
about every day since their arrival at Alexandria. Cooped 
on board river steamers most of the time, using Red River 
water for cooking and drinking, with the depressing effect 
of bad weather, caused a great deal of sickness among 
the men, chiefly diarrhoea. On the march, or on board 
river steamers, through sickness, suffering and fatigue, the 
men kept up their spirits wonderfully. Very little recre- 
ation in the way of foraging for food could be done upon 
the march, although every opportunity that presented itself 
was improved to the utmost, many a "porker" falling 
victim to their snares. Pigs appeared to be the only 
animal available when a foraging party went to work. 

Embarking upon the Ibe?'vi/Ie, at nine o'clock on the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



95 



evening of the twenty-fourth, the prisoners arrived at New 
Orleans about daylight on the twenty-fifth. Through some 
negligence they were not reported at general headquarters 
until the twenty-sixth, when special orders were issued, 
stating that " two hundred and forty men of the Forty- 
Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, paroled pris- 
oners, not having been reported to the headquarters, and 
on the Iberville unattended to and in a starving condition, 
will be taken charge of by Lieutenant Farnsworth, Fourth 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and conducted to the camp at Gen- 
tilly Crossing, and turned over and kept as paroled men 
under proper officers." 

They disembarked on the twenty-sixth, and marched to 
camp under escort of Companies A, B, E and F, after 
attending a brigade drill. Many were the heartfelt greet- 
ings exchanged all around, and for days afterwards the 
boys were occupied in reciting their adventures and 
trials. 

A communication from General Sherman, commandins: 
Defences of New Orleans, gives the status of the prisoners 
as follows : 

" The Forty-Second Regiment on the Iberville, with the 
exception of the chaplain, are paroled but not exchanged ; 
the chaplain is unconditionally released. The conditions 
of the parole are thus stated in the fourth article of the 
cartel between the United States and the enemy, promul- 
gated in General Orders No. 146 of 1862 from the War 
Department, adjutant-general's office : ' The surplus pris- 
oners not exchanged shall not be permitted to take up 
arms again, nor to serve as military police or constabulary 
force in any fort, garrison or field work held by either of 
the respective parties, nor as guards of prisons, depots, 
or stores, nor to discharge any duty usually performed by 



194 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

soldiers, until exchanged under the provisions of this 
cartel.'" 

A reply was made March 6th, which elicited from 
General Sherman a response that everything was satis- 
factory. 

" Headquarters, 42ND Mass. Vols., 
"Camp Farr, Bayou Gentilly, La., March 6th, 1863. 

^^ Si'r, — I have the honor to state that your communica- 
tion of the third inst., enclosing a copy of letter of 
instructions from headquarters, Departifient of the Gulf, 
and inquiring whether special orders from these head- 
-quarters. No. 73, current series, February 26th, have been 
iully carried out, is just received. 

" In reply, I would respectively state, that the two 
hundred and forty men of this regiment, paroled pris- 
oners, were reported to me by Lieutenant Farnsworth, as 
ordered ; and that I have placed them in a separate 
camp, at a distance of three hundred and eighty paces, or 
seventy-six rods, from the camp of the men under my 
command. That I have placed Captain J. D. Cogswell, 
a competent and efficient officer, at the camp to take 
charge of them, with instructions to treat them as paroled 
but unexchanged prisoners of war, and to make such 
rules and regulations, subject to my approval, as shall 
conduce to their comfort and welfare. 

" I have also given instructions to Lieutenant A. E. 
Proctor, acting regimental quartermaster, to furnish for 
them proper rations and such articles of clothing as they 
are in need of, some of them- being quite destitute of 
clothing. I would also respectfully add, that I have 
required nothing whatever that shall in the least manner 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 95 

effect their parole, or cause a violation of the ' cartel ' 
alluded to. 

" I have the honor to remain, 

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"J. STEDMAN, 
■ " Lieut-Colonel C07nma7iding. 

*^ To Captain Wickham Hoffman, 

"y^. A. General Defe?ices New Orleans ^ 

Had the men at Galveston been captured prior to Jan- 
uary I St, 1863, they would have been declared duly ex- 
changed and ordered to report for duty immediately, 
February 9th, 1863 ; a general order issued that day from 
Department headquarters required all officers, enlisted men 
and camp followers captured in the States of Texas and 
Louisiana up to January ist, 1863, to return to duty at 
once, as they are declared duly exchanged prisoners of war 
by General Orders No. 10, dated January loth, 1863, from 
the War Department, adjutant-general's office. The men 
of the Eighth Regiment, United States Regulars, were 
exchanged and organized into a battalion for duty with the 
army. A portion of them under command of Lieutenant 
Copley Amory, Fourth Cavalry, arrived at Opelousas April 
23d to join in the campaign then under way by the Nine- 
teenth Corps. On the twenty-fifth, they were relieved from 
this service and ordered to return North, as an act of jus- 
tice to those gallant men. A national salute was fired when 
leaving Opelousas, and a similar honor was paid them on 
their departure from New Orleans ; General Orders No. 
34, Nineteenth Army Corps, made honorable mention of 
their record, accompanied by a full roster of the men. 

The trouble between Federal and Confederate War 
Departments over the exchange of prisoners commenced 
in 1863, so all attempts to effect an exchange for the men 



196 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

of the Forty-Second failed. At Gentilly Crossing they 
remained, until about the time the regiment embarked for 
home, in a camp laid out very neat, kept in good order, 
with ovens and fire-places for cooking purposes, built of 
brick obtained from the ruins of an old sugar house across 
the Gentilly road, opposite their camp. 

Familiarly nicknamed the " pet lambs," their military 
life was one of inglorious ease, much to their disgust. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 197 



CHAPTER VIII. 
At Bayou Gentilly — March — April. 

THE month of March was dull enough to suit an 
epicure or sluggard. Additional details from the 
regiment for service elsewhere was the order of the day. 
In response to a call by special orders from headquarters, 
Defences of New Orleans, the following men were detailed 
from Company E, March ist, for service in the Fourth 
Massachusetts Battery, in need of men : 

Privates Alender E. Dorman, Henry C. Tyler, George 
H. Hathorn, Lyman Hathorn, Leonard Mahon and 
Michael Nedow. 

On the tenth. Captain Coburn and Lieutenant John P. 
Burrell, Company A, with three sergeants, five corporals 
and forty-eight privates, left camp to take post at Battery 
St. John, situated on the Bayou St. John. 

The monotony of camp life was relieved by a brigade 
drill held on the third. On this occasion Sergeant Charles 
A. Attwell, Company G, who had been detailed March 2d 
to act as band-major, made his first effort in that line of 
business. Attwell was a stout, pompous appearing man, 
well calculated to deceive anybody on a slight acquaint- 
ance, and he made out of his position all that any man 
could possibly squeeze. On the march to and from the 
drill ground he made love to all the women, who followed 
the regiment with pies and cakes for sale. Dropping to the 
rear of the column, when a route step was taken, Attwell 
would be found, escorted by these women, liberally help- 



198 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

ing himself to their goods. There was a reason for all 
this on his part ; a perfect specimen of a " dead beat," he 
never paid for anything, except in compliments. 

A ripple of excitement was created on the eighth, when 
a letter from Colonel Farr was received, with orders to 
hold the men in readiness for marching orders at a 
moment's notice. On the thirteenth, when the paroled 
men were ordered to get ready for transfer to the United 
States Barracks and there quartered, it looked like a 
general breaking up of camp at Gentilly Bayou, and the 
men were in fine spirits again. The latter orders were 
immediately countermanded, and the camp soon settled 
down to the old state of things. 

There existed, among regiments that arrived in January 
and February, a heavy sick list, accompanied with a loss 
of many men by death. An inquiry into the cause, 
ordered by General Sherman, produced the following 
interesting circular, issued to all commanding officers 
under his orders. One reason for incorporating this cir- 
cular as a part of the regimental record, is to show certain 
officers and men of the regiment, who were accustomed to 
disregard nearly all of the recommendations contained 
therein, what results will follow from not performing one 
of the highest duties that belong to an officer on active- 
service, viz., personal attention to the health of his men. 

"CIRCULAR. 

"Headquarters Defences New Orleans, 

"New Orleans, March 7th, 1863. 
" Upon the following report of the medical director of this command 
of February 21st, ult., the brigadier-general commanding has made 
this indorsement : 

"'It is believed that a publication of Surgeon Sanger's report, to 
the troops of this command, fully approved as it is by me, will be 
sufficient to awaken a greater spirit of pride and vigor in attention 
to duty. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1 99 

" ' There is no doubt but that a want of attention to personal 
cleanliness, of proper police, and of vigorous, hearty, and interested 
attention to duty, is the cause of most sickness now prevalent. 

" ' I call upon all commanding officers to look carefully into this 
matter, and endeavor to prevent not only all unnecessary mortality, 
but that continued reduction of the duty list, which so much enfeebles 
the efficiency of the command. 

'"Commanding officers must not take upon themselves to excuse 
men and officers from duty on the plea of sickness. The medical 
officers alone are to decide who are fit or unfit for duty.' 

"WICKHAM HOFFMAN, 

" Assistant Adjutant-General. 



"New Orleans, March 5th, 1S63. 
"Captain W. Hoffman, 

" Assistant Adjutant-General : 

" In obedience to your instructions, I have examined with care and 
interest the various hospitals and regiments in this command, to 
ascertain the cause of so much sickness. My investigations have 
been thorough, having visited nearly every cook-house, street, and 
tent, observing drainage, etc., in this command. 

"The results of my investigations are not altogether satisfactory, 
and in some instances contradictory. The special cause of disease in 
individual regiments is hard to arrive at, because what seems to pre- 
dispose to disease in one case is harmless in another, and results 
are so dependent upon the mental and moral influences exerted 
over the men, their special predisposition and resistance to disease, 
and their idiosyncracies, and previous habits. I have, however, 
arrived at certain general conclusions of importance. 

" First. There is but little, if any, malarious poison generated at 
present. I did not see a characteristic case of intermittent fever, and 
but one case of remittent. In many cases where malarial fever was 
reported, it was either initiative fever, or one of the species of the 
continued form, or the regiments had been previously exposed to 
malaria, and the clamp weather, or other untoward circumstances had 
developed or reproduced it. In confirmation of this may be instanced 
the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, now suffering from intermittent. 
This regiment had fever and ague severely at Forts Philip and 
Jackson last June and July, but after being ordered to the Custom 
House, beyond malarious influences, recovered. Since the rainy sea- 



2 00 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

son set in, their quarters have been dark and damp, and this fever 
has been reproduced. 

'■'■Second. The camping ground outside the city is very similar in 
character ; there is but little choice of grounds, most of the camps 
are susceptible of pretty good drainage, and the difference of altitude 
does not vary more than twelve to seventeen inches. Some camps 
are more accessible to certain conveniences, such as drinking water, 
sinks and places for the disposal of slops, and those on the imme- 
diate banks of the river are more exempt from whatever malaria 
exists at the present time, yet these differences do not account for the 
disparities in the sick reports. 

" Third. Neatness in cooking and person, and cleanliness of 
camps, are powerful agents in preserving health, and in proportion to 
the observance of Heaven's first law, did I see exemption from 
disease. It is not sufficient, however, that soldiers should be passive 
agents in the accomplishment of this, but their pride and ambition 
should be aroused, they should be made to feel that it was not only 
necessary for the preservation of health, but laudable. 

" Wherever I found officers who had inspired spirit in their men, 
and had taken a personal interest in keeping their soldiers and camps 
clean, and where soldiers had been made to feel that excellence in 
these points was meritorious, and that a deviation would not only not 
be permitted but surely ptmished ; and where I found men were con- 
vinced that to complain was unmanly and nursing not the privilege of 
the soldier, there I found a healthy regiment. 

"The One Hundred and Tenth New York had the largest sick list, 
two hundred and ninety-two ; this regiment was on shipboard fifty- 
three days; after landing had some ship fever and about one hundred 
cases of measles ; lost fifteen men. The voyage, measles and deaths 
depressed the men somewhat, besides men from agricultural districts 
do not seem to be so hardy and stand campaigning as well as city 
soldiers. The camp was neat, tents floored and cooking good; men 
looked pretty vigorous; think the surgeon too lenient, but he said if 
he did not excuse the men the colonel would. Should say the sick 
report might be reduced one-third with impunity. 

" The Sixteenth New Hampshire was encamped near the One 
Hundred and Tenth New York, had one hundred and seventy-three 
sick; only fifteen days on shipboard; lost ten men ; principal disease, 
diarrhoea; camp was not so well drained as the One Hundred and 
Tenth New York. Tents and streets were very dirty and the men 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 20I 

unwashed, some had not washed for four weeks and the most not for 
two weeks. 

" The One Hundred and Sixty-Second New York, camping on the 
same ground, had very few sick. This regiment was enlisted in New 
York City; were forty-one days on 'shipboard, and, I believe, had not 
lost a man in camp. The surgeon attended personally to the cooking, 
■drainage and cleanliness of camp, and the commanding officer had 
his suggestions rigorously enforced. 

" The Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts had one hundred and fifty-five 
sick; tents provided with floors; streets pretty neat, and the facilities 
for drainage good; cook tents too much crowded, and cooking not 
attended to as it ought to be; principal disease, diarrhoea; think the 
surgeon a little too lenient ; says there were forty chronic cases, which 
never ought to have been enlisted; attributes diarrhoea to sour bread. 

"The Fifty-Third Massachusetts had one hundred and thirty-six 
sick ; sick list swelled by a number of cases of scarlet and lung fever ; 
lung fever caused by sleeping on the damp ground for the first fort- 
night after their arrival. The hospital was not neat; sick were not 
provided with comforts, and the surgeon complains that he could not 
make his hospital fund available. Both assistant-surgeons sick. 
Cooking done in the open air, without shelter from the heavy rains. 

" The One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth New York had one hun- 
dred and twenty-three sick; were on shipboard forty-two davs ; did 
not pay the same attention to cleanliness and fumigation that the 
One Hundred and Sixty-Second New York did; have had a large 
number of cases of ship fever, nearly one hundred; lost thirty-nine 
men. Principal cause of disease at present, diarrhoea. Neither the 
camp nor hospital are in good condition. The soldiers don't take 
pride in grading their streets and keeping their tents clean. Counted 
heei bones by the dozen about their tents. Many of their patients 
are treated in hospital tents and on the floor. Suggested to the 
colonel to take a confiscated house within his regimental lines, now 
occupied by the One Hundred and Sixty-Second New York. A 
vacant house can be found near the camp of the One Hundred and 
Sixty-Second New York, quite as convenient for the latter. 

"The Twentj'-Sixth Connecticut has one hundred and fifty sick. 
Diseases, typhoid fever and diarrhoea. Number of deaths, nine. I 
think the cause of so much disease, and i/;zr/, can be traced to want 
of cleanliness. The tents were all disorderly and dirty. Attention was 
not paid to keeping the drains and streets free from mouldy bread, 



202 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

meat bones and orange peel. The men had a listless and indifferent^ 
look, as if waiting the expiration of their term of service. ] 

" The Fourth Massachusetts had one hundred and fourteen sick ; on 
shipboard forty-eight days ; no deaths ; diarrhoea prevailing. Through 
the energy and attention of their commander, this regiment has 
escaped serious disease. Did not see any very sick in hospital or 
quarters. The men were enjoying a little respite after long confine- 
ment on shipboard. 

"The Sixth Michigan is improving; still show the effects of the 
malaria of last summer. 

" The Fifteenth New Hampshire are rapidly improving ; officers 
and men becoming very much interested in improving their camp. 

" The Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts has a large number in general 
hospital. The inclement weather and dark, gloomy and damp quar- 
ters give them a sickly look. I think they would rapidly improve if 
the regiment was removed to drier and more airy quarters. 

•'The One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York and Thirty-First 
Massachusetts are very free from disease. Much is due in both these 
regiments to the spirit, energy and attention of their commanders 
and surgeons. The camp of the One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New 
York is scrupulously neat, clean and well drained — best camp in this 
command; and personal attention seems to be paid by the officers to 
everything conducive to health and comfort. The other regiments 
of your command are in very good condition, and present very small 
sick reports. 

"I found very few of the regimental cooks furnished with the little 
cook books issued by the Commissaries. Either the Commissaries 
have failed to furnish them, or the company to distribute them. Most 
of the cooks seemed anxious to be supplied with them. 

"The use of mixed vegetables is almost universally neglected. It 
is important to accustom the regiments to the use of them, at least 
once a week, in soups, as fresh potatoes will soon fail, and the habitual 
use of some succulent vegetable is essential to health, as well as to 
prevent the cravings of a ravenous appetite, produced by a want of 
that variety to which soldiers have been accustomed in private life. 
A morbid appetite is created by this neglect, and when soldiers get 
access to such food they invariably overload their stomachs. 
" Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

"EUGENE F. SANGER, 
" Medical Director, General Shenna)i's Conunand^'' 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 203 

The first vacancy among commissioned officers of the 
regiment was caused by the resignation of First-Lieu- 
tenant David A. Partridge, of Company E, who remained in 
Massachusetts to look after deserters when the regiment 
left the State, and was granted a discharge by War Depart- 
ment Special Orders No. 105, dated March 5th, to enable 
him to accept a commission and recruit for the Fifty-Fourth 
Massachusetts Colored Volunteers. The vacancy was filled 
March 24th by the election of Second-Sergeant Benjamin 
C. Tinkham, Company B, jumping Second-Lieutenant J. 
C. Clifford and the first-sergeant, who were in the line 
of promotion. 

The second vacancy was caused by the resignation of 
Captain Charles A. Pratt, Company E. This vacancy was 
also filled by an election by the company, April 2d. First- 
Lieutenant John W. Emerson was made captain, and 
Second-Sergeant Augustus Ford, Company E, was elected 
a first-lieutenant, vice Emerson, promoted (if this can be 
called promotion), jumping Second-Lieutenant Brown P. 
Stowell, a prisoner of war in Texas, and the first-sergeant, 
who were in the line of promotion. 

This elective system of filling vacancies, one of the 
inducements held out to attract men to enlist in the nine 
months' troops from Massachusetts, was a ridiculous sys- 
tem ; one of caucus politics in the army. It was the 
cause of considerable ill feeling and much trouble in nine 
months' organizations from the State. To allow the rank 
and file to choose by an election their company officers 
was entirely wrong. Under it any man in the company, 
no matter what his qualifications may be, stands a chance, 
by electioneering, to win an officer's position that is 
vacant. Merit in that officer who has a right to expect 
the promotion is overlooked, if that officer has been so 
unlucky as to incur the displeasure of a few prominent 



204 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

men in his company, and they proceed to spread the 
dissatisfaction to others, and take their revenge by elect- 
ing another over him not entitled to the vacancy. What 
is the consequence ? The officer so jumped forthwith 
loses the interest he formerly had in the command, and 
does not exert himself to work for the good of the men 
under him. 

It is just to say that in the above cases the selections 
were good. Perhaps could not be better. 

With the exception of a slight clashing of authority, 
between Captain Coburn, in command at Battery St. John, 
and Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, concerning some cap- 
tures of prisoners and seizures of contraband goods on 
the night of the fourteenth, which required two peremptory 
letters to be sent Captain Coburn before it was straight- 
ened out, everything worked smooth with the command. 
This was a case where four citizens were arrested near 
Bayou St. John in the act of smuggling contraband goods 
across Lake Ponchartrain ; three of them were sent to 
New Orleans March 17th by orders, and one was dis- 
charged March i6th by Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. 

The City of New Orleans so near to many camps, full of 
enticements of a varied character, was the place to tempt 
many a soldier who was disposed to evade duty and absent 
himself without leave. Stragglers from these camps with- 
out passes gave provost-guards so much trouble and the 
evil grew to such proportions every day. Department 
Special Orders No. 61 were issued March 2d to put a stop 
to it. There were five hundred men in the city without 
passes and in confinement reported to the provost-marshal- 
general March 2d. In one day the provost-guard found 
nineteen men from one company without a pass ; but one 
man from the Forty-Second is known to have visited the 
city in this way during March, and he. Private Owen Fox, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, 205 

j Company A, was promptly arrested by the guard and sent 
' back to the regiment. 

Besides the details already mentioned, the following 

details were made and changes occurred during the month : 

March 4th — Corporal John C. Yeaton, Company E, 

was reduced to the ranks by regimental special orders as 

unfit for the position. 

March 4th — Private G. G. Belcher, Company F, was 
relieved as a wagoner and ordered to duty in the ranks, 
and the captain ordered to appoint a trustworthy person 
to fill the position of wagoner. 

March 5th — Privates Thomas H. Sawyer, Company B, 
and Joseph V. Colson, Company G, were detailed as 
markers. 

March 5th — Private John A. Loud, Company A, was 
ordered to report to Lieutenant Pease, division ordnance- 
ofiicer, to do duty as a mechanic in unspiking guns at 
Chalmette. He returned to duty in the regiment June 13th. 
March 7 th — Private J. Augustus Fitts, Company B, 
was detailed as orderly at regimental headquarters. 

March 7th — Private William H. Haven was transferred 
from Company E to Company F, to date from March ist. 
March 8th — Private Clark K. Denny was relieved from 
duty as orderly and made a clerk at regimental head- 
quarters. 

March 9th — Special Orders, Defences New Orleans, 
appointed Corporal Uriel Josephs and Sergeant Eben 
Tirrell, Jr., of Company A, as ordnance-sergeants at Bat- 
teries Gentilly and St. John, reporting to the division 
ordnance-ofiicer. 

March 9th — Private Elbridge G. Harwood, Company 
B, was made regimental carpenter, serving in that capacity 
until relieved in July. 

March 9th — Private George H. Greenwood, Company 



2o6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

B, was made cook for the wagoner's mess, serving as such 
until relieved in July. 

March 31st — Major Stiles and Lieutenant Duncan, 
Company F, were detailed on court-martial duty by 
general orders, Defences New Orleans, to serve when such 
court was held. They were not relieved until July 30th. 

In addition to these details the chief-quartermaster 
asked for names of such men in the regiment as were 
qualified to act as superintendent of machine works, and 
in the manufacture and preparation of lumber. Upon 
inquiry there were found quite a number, who were rec- 
ommended accordingly, but no detail was made from the 
regiment. 

In this month (March) a few unimportant incidents 
occurred worth notice because a few members, who are 
aware of the facts, cannot forget them. One was a hunt 
after dogs, on the night of March 31st, by a few wild, 
restless spirits, with a view to exterminate all they could 
from the neighborhood infested with them. Another was 
an old negro who could not tell his age, but, from facts 
gleaned in conversation with him, must have been over 
one hundred years old. Bent over with age, trembling 
with weakness, without a home or friends, this old man 
was a wanderer from camp to camp for food and shelter. 
On a bitter cold night he struck the Forty-Second camp, 
and was provided with lodging in the guard-house. None 
of his kind would care for him, so he said, " since old 
massa had dun gon' away." 

Sergeant-Major Bosson, and Sergeant Phil. Hackett, 
Company G, had an adventure on the Gentilly road on 
the night of March loth. A beautiful moonlight evening 
it was. As they strolled along the road songs were heard, 
sung by a party of men evidently in liquor. To hide and 
listen, under the shadow of a board fence, was suggested 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 207 

by Hackett. No sooner done than a few snatches of a 
secession refrain raised Hackett's anger to such a point 
that he was ready to whip the entire party. Bosson 
advised no interference, as the men had a perfect right 
to sing. Hackett's blood was up, however, and when a 
citizen (the party separated a few moments before) arrived 
opposite their hiding place, Phil, jumped for him, when 
the man showed fight. Hackett threw him into a ditch, 
alongside the road, and by the time he got out, swearing 
vengeance, Bosson was on hand. The two confronted him. 
He raised one arm to the back of his neck, when stories, 
often read in books, of Southerners with bowie knives 
carried in that spot flashed across the minds of both men, 
and simultaneously they seized him. Hackett held his 
arms while Bosson placed a pistol to his head. French- 
man as he was, excited with anger and liquor, the cold 
muzzle against his temple completely cowed the fellow. 
A search was made for the suspected bowie knife, but 
none was found. The man, who gave his name as citizen 
Ambrose Leonard, was marched into camp a prisoner. 
As nothing could be charged against him, he was released 
from arrest March 12th by Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. 
There was no good cause for this arrest ; the affair sprang 
from a spirit of mischief and from ignorance of what they 
had a right to do. 

On March 21st occurred the first loss by death the 
regiment sustained at Bayou Gentilly. Private Obed F. 
Allen, Company G, a paroled prisoner of war, died in the 
regimental hospital of typhoid fever. The disease was 
contracted on the march from Houston. His body was 
embalmed by a city undertaker at the expense of his 
comrades in Company G, and sent to his home in Quincy, 
Massachusetts. 

At the close of March there were present for duty in 



2o8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the four companies at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, seven- 
teen officers and three hundred and fift3^-five men. 

Present sick in hospital, thirty-six. The average sick 
per day of the regiment during March was : taken sick, 
two ; returned to duty, two ; in hospital, twenty ; in 
quarters, three. 

In April the companies attached to regimental head- 
quarters had some work to perform. Brigade special 
orders, issued on the fourth, placed Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stedman in command of the stations Bayou Gentilly, 
Bayou St. John, Lakeport, and the bayous dependent upon 
the same, with headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, and he 
was ordered to relieve two companies of the Ninth Con- 
necticut Infantry, then stationed at Lake-end of Bayou 
St. John and at Lakeport, with two companies from the 
Forty-Second. 

On the fifth, a fine Sunday morning, about ten o'clock. 
Captain Cogswell (who had been relieved from command 
of the paroled camp by Lieutenant Powers, Company F) 
proceeded with his company to Lakeport and relieved 
Company E, Ninth Connecticut, Captain Wright, then on 
picket duty from Lakeport to Point aux Herbes, fifteen 
miles. On the same day thirty-five men of Company A, 
under Captain Coburn, proceeded to Lake-end of Bayou 
St. John and relieved Company G, Ninth Connecticut. 
The Ninth Connecticut men behaved in a most unsold ier- 
like manner, causing Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to state 
the facts to brigade headquarters in the accompanying 
letter : 

" Headquarters Forty-Second Regt., Mass. Vols., 

"Camp Farr, Bayou Gentilly, La., April 6th, 1863. 

^^ Sir, — I have the honor to report that I proceeded 

yesterday, according to Special Orders No. 54, and moved 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 209 

Company F of this regiment to Lakeport, and there 
relieved the Ninth Connecticut, Captain Wright, who 
turned over the public property in his possession to 
Captain J. D. Cogswell, commanding Company F. The 
pickets were taken from Company F for Lakeport and 
all stations below that point. 

"At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John I placed thirty men 
and four non-commissioned officers from Company A, 
leaving thirty men of the same company at Battery St. 
John ; the whole under command of Captain Coburn, of 
Company A. 

" I have remaining of Company A, nineteen men, four 
non-commissioned officers and one lieutenant, who are 
now stationed at Battery Gentilly on the Ponchartrain 
Railroad, thus making all the stations and pickets outside 
of this immediate camp under charge of Companies A 
and F. 

" In connection with the relieving of the companies of 
the Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, I am sorry to be obliged 
to report the ill-will manifested by many of them at their 
removal from the lake. 

"At Lakeport they broke up and destroyed all the 
bunks in the building they occupied as quarters and sold 
all the boards they could remove from the building. Sev- 
eral of them were badly intoxicated, and one drew a knife 
and another a club on one of the members of Company 
F for refusing to allow them to pull out the faucets of the 
water tanks and waste all the water at the quarters. 

" At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John the Government 
schooner Hot-tense was lying, and the crew of that boat 
managed, before my men took possession of her, to dam- 
age her in several ways. Twelve lights of glass were 
broken of the cabin windows, and the cabin furniture 
considerably damaged. They sold the hawser, also the 



210 

launch, or tender, of the schooner, and many of the 
cooking utensils were thrown overboard and lost. The 
water cask and a few of the ropes have been recovered 
from parties who bought them, but the launch and other 
things, which they sold, we have not found as yet. 

"I would respectfully submit this report as a simple 
statement of facts which have come under my observa- 
tion since relieving the companies named. 
" I have the honor to remain, 

" Your most obedient servant, 
"J. STEDMAN, 

" Lieutcnaiit-Coloiiel commandhig. 
" To Lieutenant George E. Davis, A. A. A. General^ 
''''Second Brigade^ Second Divisiofi^ Neiv Orleans^ 

The boat of the Hortense was found May 2d at Hickok's 
Landing in the possession of a coffee house proprietor. ' 
There was some correspondence with the brigade com- * 
mander about this affair, but it was allowed to blow over, 
and no steps were taken to punish the ringleaders. The 
Connecticut men were very angry, because taken from a 
post where they enjoyed themselves to the neglect of duty. 

Captain Cogswell soon found there was business to 
occupy his attention. Within two hours after his arrival a 
man representing himself as J. D. O'Connell, special detec- 
tive in Government employ, with a companion, requested 
assistance in a case they were engaged in working up. 
Not producing any proof, as requested, that they were in 
the Government service, a special messenger was sent to 
the provost-marshal of New Orleans, who returned with 
the information O'Connell was " all right." While not 
fully satisfied in his own mind, the captain concluded to 
join in the game, intending to arrest them if they did not 
prove " all right." 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 211 

The case was one in which a party of Confederates 
wished to get across the lake. A sail-boat was furnished 
by Captain Cogswell with one man disguised as a fisher- 
man, who was to have the boat ready at a certain lonely 
spot on the road leading to Bayou St. John where it ran 
close to the water. The party of Confederates were to be 
ready to cross on the eighth, but did not make the attempt 
until the night of the tenth. Requesting assistance from 
the lieutenant-colonel, eight men from Company B, under 
Lieutenant Tinkham,were sent to Lakeport on the eighth. 

A detail of twelve men, divided into two squads, under the 
commands of Lieutenant Tinkham and Orderly-Sergeant 
J. A. Titus, Company F, were secreted among bushes 
that bordered upon the road. Accompanied by the two 
detectives, who pretended to be Confederates, the party 
appeared about nine o'clock p.m. The detectives waited 
until their companions had reached the boat, when they 
gave a pre-arranged signal, responded to by Lieutenant 
Tinkham shouting the agreed-on command, " Rally on 
centre," fired his pistol, and the squads dashed out from 
their hiding-places with a shout. One detective pretended 
to be killed, the other was made a prisoner; all in the plan. 
It was supposed the men who reached the boat would 
make a hot fight, but they shouted not to fire and they 
would agree to come in ; as there was some delay in doing 
so, Sergeant Ballou, Company B, asked and received per- 
mission to wade out and hurry them up, taking possession 
and remaining upon the boat until relieved. 

Under guard, the prisoners were marched to Captain 
Cogswell's headquarters for examination. They proved 
to be Major Breedlove, a Confederate spy within the lines 
for nearly three months, Captain Switzer, a Confederate 
steamboat man, on his way to take command of a gunboat, 
and three other men. On the person of Captain Switzer 



212 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

was found $3,098.00 ; $2,800.00 was in one-hundred-dollar 
Confederate bills, the balance in notes of Louisiana State 
Banks, located in New Orleans. Relieved of their per- 
sonal effects, the prisoners were turned over to the provost- 
marshal of New Orleans, and the property also. They 
were confined in the Parish prison for several weeks, and 
then released. Breedlove and Switzer afterwards visited 
Captain Cogswell to obtain their property. 

Later, on the same night, a negro reported men loading 
a boat on the lake near the "White House." Sergeant 
Ballou was sent with a detail of men to the spot, but did 
not capture any prisoners. The boat was secured, and 
found to contain boots, shoes, cards for carding cotton, 
pipes, matches and sundries. 

A schooner, under a Confederate flag of truce, convey- 
ing one hundred and thirty-three United States soldiers, 
sailors and marines, captured at Vicksburg, paroled for 
exchange, arrived on the sixth, accompanied by Confed- 
erate Commissioner of Exchange, Colonel Zyminsky. The 
men were in a sad condition from detention upon the lake 
by a severe storm, three days without food or water. They 
were supplied with all of the food at the post, not enough 
to go around, and some of the men ate raw potatoes, pre- 
ferring to do so instead of waiting to have them cooked. 
After a few hours delay sufficient supply for their imme- 
diate wants was obtained. ■ 
Colonel Zyminsky, a Pole by birth, resided in New' 
Orleans when the war commenced. His wife was then 
residing in the city, and came out to the post to see him. 
Captain Cogswell allowed her five minutes to exchange 
compliments, but that was all the colonel desired, and, 
in fact, said he did not want to see her anyhow. Zyminsky 
was a giant, six feet four inches in height, as large every- 
way in proportion. Such a nose ! A pickled blood-beet 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 213 

was pale beside it. He wanted a twelve-gallon demijohn 
of Louisiana rum more than he did a visit from his wife. 
He got the visit, but did not get the rum, although he 
clandestinely ordered it. The demijohn was brought to 
the wharf, where Cogswell would not allow it to pass, so 
Colonel Zyminsky went back across the lake very dry. 

To northern soldiers all southern scenery, cities and 
towns, so different in character to what they were accus- 
tomed to see North, charmed the eye and senses of 
those men who had not travelled far away from home, 
until a thorough acquaintance with any locality where they 
were stationed produced a desire to get away. After the 
novelty of being in a new section of country wore off, the 
men were unanimous in praise of their own sections as 
the proper place to live, enjoy life while living, and be 
laid away when dead. 

Lakeport was no exception to this first seductive in- 
fluence. A small village, with a few one-story houses, two 
hotels that entertained dinner parties from New Orleans, 
repair shops for the Ponchartrain Railroad, and a school- 
house was about all there was to it. On Sundays there 
were many visitors from the city bent on pleasure, as 
though no war was in progress. The hotels for dinners 
and bath houses to sport in the lake water were objective 
points. Occasionally, large numbers of colored men and 
women came out early on Sunday mornings to witness 
ceremonies of baptism to a score of both sexes who had 
joined a church. The religious fervor was always great 
on such occasions, coupled with antics of voice and body 
that cannot be described. White-robed negro women 
would become unmanageable when ducked tinder^ as the 
boys termed it ; if two stout assistants did not lead their 
religious sisters to where the minister stood and be ready 
to seize them after baptism for conveyance on shore they 



214 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

would drown. An exhibition of this character once seen 
can never be forgotten. While on duty at Lakeport, Com- 
pany F could not complain of a monotonous existence. 

Picket duty at the lake-end Bayou St. John requiring 
extra attention, ten privates were sent from Gentilly Bat- 
tery, on the sixth, to reenforce Captain Coburn, and on 
the ninth. Lieutenant Clifford, Company B, was ordered 
there to assist the captain, remaining at the post until the 
twenty-first. 

The schooner Hortense was repaired under supervision 
of Corporal Croome, Company F (an old sailor), who 
was detailed to command her, with the following crew : 
Kirkland A. Hawes (an old sailor) was mate ; Privates 
John J. Upham, cook ; George M. Roberts, Thomas H. 
Robinson, George Adams, all of Company F, and Rufus C. 
Greene, Company G, were seamen. Two picket-boats for 
night duty were respectively in charge of Corporal George 
L. Stone, assisted by Privates Charles M. Marsh and John 
Kraft ; Sergeant Hiram Cowan, assisted by Privates Albert 
W. Cargell and James F. Harlow. These small boats 
captured many prisoners with contraband goods, in their 
attempts to cross the lake. The schooner was used for 
picket duty and to carry supplies to such picket-posts as 
were stationed on the bayou outlets. 

On the fifth, Corporal Rhodes and three privates of 
Company B, with rations for one week, were detailed to 
proceed as a guard, on the schooner Concordia, carrying 
stores and property to Fort Pike and Fort Macomb. 

When the steamer N. F. Banks was loaded at Lakeport 
with supplies for Pensacola, and ready to sail on the 
twenty-first. Captain A. N. Shipley, A. Q. M. in New 
Orleans, called for a detail. Sergeant Ballou, Corporal 
Fales and twelve privates from Company B composed 
the detail, with rations for one week. The instructions 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 215 

Ballon received from Shipley were, to go aboard the 
Banks as a guard, watch the captain, a southerner, and 
see that he stopped at all forts on the lake to leave 
provisions and various stores, then to proceed to Fort 
Pickens, and Pensacola. If the steamboat captain showed 
any disposition to do otherwise, then he was to arrest all 
of the officers and run the steamer into the blockading 
iieet oif Mobile and report. The transport vessel that 
made a similar trip, a short time previous, had been run 
through the blockaders into Mobile by her officers, and 
the cargo passed into Confederate hands. The round trip 
was made in five days, without any event of importance. 

These duties of detailed men, with constant activity at 
the lake posts to prevent smuggling across to the enemy, 
gave many men a taste of active duty that was fatiguing, 
if it was without glory. 

It was hard work to get rolls, returns and statements, 
required by army regulations, made correctly and promptly 
by company officers of the regiment. A few officers 
appeared to think these documents were unnecessary, a 
species of red tape to be fought down. Still it was said 
they averaged as good as any organization in the Gulf 
Department, if not better. In the army, among those 
who knew nothing about it, a great deal of talk was con- 
stantly made about red tape. Among business men the 
wonder was, that the vast machinery of an army could be 
successfully kept going with such simple returns. There 
was nothing about them a school-boy of ordinary abilitv 
could fail to understand in a short time of study. To 
understand the nature and use of these documents was as 
much the duty of an officer as' to know how to drill his 
men. His duty to the men demanded it. Without them 
payments could not be made, either bounties or wages, 
rations provided, clothing held in readiness for issue, pen- 



2l6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

sions granted for disability or to the proper relatives of 
deceased soldiers. Many a large corporation or business 
house, in their method of conducting business, requires a 
system much more complicated than the Government has 
in use for administration of the army. When delays and 
trouble occurred in the rolls, returns, etc., it was usually 
traced to the inability of some officer to understand them. 

The company returns required were : morning reports, 
company muster rolls, company muster and pay rolls, 
company monthly return, returns of men joined company, 
descriptive lists, quarterly company returns deceased 
soldiers, muster-in rolls, muster-out rolls, enlistments, 
re-enlistments, furloughs, discharges, final statements, rolls 
of prisoners of war, ordnance returns. 

All very simple to fill up properly; each return so 
printed that there was no excuse for not understanding 
how it was to be done. 

The regimental returns required were : consolidated 
morning reports, field and staff muster rolls, field and 
staff muster and pay rolls, muster rolls of hospital, muster 
and pay rolls of hospital, regimental monthly returns, 
lists of officers, alterations in officers, quarterly regimental 
returns of deceased soldiers, annual return of casualties. 

Careful supervision at regimental headquarters was nec- 
essary of company pay rolls, in order to have them correct 
before forwarding to proper officers. 

The regimental books were lost at Galveston ; it became 
necessary to make out a new descriptive book, and could 
only be done by obtaining the company descriptive books 
to copy. Captain Bailey, Company H, had peculiar ideas 
of his own in regard to making proper company returns to 
regimental headquarters, and when he refused to obey an 
order from Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, to forward his 
company book, it was proper to discipline him. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 217 

On the thirteenth a regimental order to Captain Leonard, 
Company C, in command of Companies C and H, con- 
tained the following : " You will also forward to these 
headquarters the descriptive books of both companies 
C and H of the regiment, for copying in the regimental 
records." What followed is explained in a letter written 
to the brigade-commander next day : — 

'' Headquarters Forty-Second Regt., Mass. Vols., 

" Camp Farr, Gentilly Station, La., April 14th, 1863. 

" Sir, — I w^ould respectfully report that the enclosed is 
a copy of an order sent to Camp Parapet yesterday, by my 
orderly, and that Captain Leonard complied with the order 
at once. Captain D. W. Bailey, of Company H, absolutely 
refused to send his descriptive book, saying that ' the 
colonel or no other man should have his company books.' 
If he was under my immediate command here at the 
camp, it w^ould be clear to my mind how I should act in 
this case. In the present instance I am not sufficiently 
informed what my action should be in the premises, not 
knowing fully how the commanding general considers 
their relations to this regiment, and more particularly to 
the commanding officer of the same. 

" I would respectfully refer the case to Colonel Farr, 
for advice and information. 

" I have the honor to remain, 

"Your obedient servant,. 

"J. STEDMAN, 
^'Lieutenant-Colonel, 42nd Mass. Vols. 
*' To Lieut. Geo. E. Davis, A. A. A. General, 

^^ Secofid Brigade, Secofid Division, New Orleans. ^^ 

By orders of General Sherman, Captain Bailey was 
placed in arrest on the sixteenth, sent to Gentilly Station 



2l8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the next day, an orderly bringing the descriptive book 
that caused the trouble. Under orders from brigade head- 
quarters, charges and specification of charges were for- 
warded on the sixteenth. The assignment to quarters, 
while in arrest, was as follows : • 

" Headquarters Forty-Second Regt., Mass. Vols., 
" Camp Farr, Bayou Gentilly, La., April 17th, 1863. 

^^ Captain, — You having been reported at these head- 
quarters in arrest by orders of Brigadier-General Sherman, 
you are hereby assigned quarters in the large tent to the 
left of these headquarters, and you will hold yourself 
within the following limits, viz. : On the right, on a line 
with the guard line and the right iiank of this camp. In 
front, on a line with the woods in front of the camp. On 
the left, on a line with the tents on the left flank of the 
camp of paroled prisoners. In the rear, on a line with 
the road extending along the rear of this camp. 

"You are also referred to the Army Regulations in 
relation to officers in arrest, in relation to communica- 
tions, etc. 

"By command of 

" Lieutenant-Colonel J. STEDMAN, 

" Charles A. Davis, Adjutant 

" To Captain Davis W. Bailey, 

''Co7npa?iy H, 4.2 d Regt,, Mass. Vols:' 

Until May 14th the captain remained at Gentilly Bayou, 
when he was allowed the limits of New Orleans, until the 
findings in his case were promulgated. 

The charges and specifications in this case, and find- 
ings of the Court, were as follows — copied from General 
Orders, No. 48, Nineteenth Army Corps : 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 219 

CHARGE FIRST. 

'' Disobedience of Orders." 

Specification — "In this : that he, Captain Davis W. 
Bailey, Company H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachu- 
setts Volunteers, when ordered by Lieutenant-Colonel J. 
Stedman, in the execution of his office, and through Cap- 
tain O. W. Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and 
H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and 
to whom the order was addressed, to send to the regi- 
mental headquarters his company Descriptive Book, did 
absolutely refuse and fail so to do. All this at Camp 
Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of 
April, 1863." 

CHARGE SECOND. 

" Conduct unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman." 

Specification First — "In this: that he. Captain Davis 
W, Bailey, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- 
teers, when notified by Captain O. W. Leonard, senior 
captain of Companies C and H, Forty-Second Regiment, 
Massachusetts Volunteers, that he (Captain Leonard) 
had received an order from Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman 
(commanding Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers), to send to -the regimental headquarters the 
Descriptive Books of said Companies C and H, did then 
and there use disrespectful language of his superior 
officer, saying in substance as follows : ' the colonel or 
no other man can have my company books.' All this at 
Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day 
of April, 1863." 

Specification Second — " In this : that he. Captain Davis 
W. Bailey, Company H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massa- 



220 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

chusetts Volunteers, did, on or about the thirteenth day 
of April, 1863, at or near his quarters at Camp Parapet, 
Louisiana, when waited on by an orderly from the regi- 
mental headquarters of the Forty -Second Regiment, 
Massachusetts Volunteers, which orderly was sent by 
Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stedman, in the execution of his 
office, with a written order to Companies C and H, Forty- 
Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, to forward 
their company Descriptive Books for copying on the regi- 
mental records, did refuse to send his Descriptive Book, 
and neglect so to do. All this at Camp Parapet, Louisi- 
ana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863." 

CHARGE THIRD. 

" Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military 
Discipline." 

Si>ecification — "In this: that he. Captain Davis W. 
Bailey, Company H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachu-j 
setts Volunteers, when informed by Captain Leonard, 
senior captain of Companies C and H, Forty-Second ! 
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that the lieutenant- 
colonel had sent an order for the Descriptive Books of 
said companies, did, then and there, at or near his quarters 
at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, and in the presence of 
Captain Leonard and at least two enlisted men of the 
Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, refuse 
to send his Descriptive Book, averring in substance as 
follows : ' Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman or no other man 
can have my company books.' All this at Camp Parapet, 
Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863." 

To all of which charges and specifications the accused 
pleaded " not guilty." 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 221 

The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence 
adduced, finds the accused as follows : 

Of the specification, first charge — "Not guilty." 

Of the first charge — " Not guilty." 

Of the first specification, second charge — " Not guilty." 

Of the second specification, second charge — "Not guilty." 

Of the second charge — "Not guilty." 

Of the specification, third charge — "Not guilty." 

Of the third charge — " Not guilty." 

And does therefore acquit him. 

The case was clear and charges filed correctly, but, on 
his trial before a general court-martial, held in New 
Orleans, March 25th, the charges were not sustained; a 
material witness failed to remember anything. 

The proceedings of this court-martial were approved by 
General Banks in General Orders of June 9th, when 
Captain Bailey was acquitted, released from arrest and 
returned to duty ; the orders did not take effect until 
July 20th, when they reached the regiment. 

At a general court-martial convened in New Orleans, 
January 27th, 1863, of which Major F. Frye, Ninth Con- 
necticut Volunteers, was president, the following enlisted 
men of the Forty-Second were tried, in addition to the 
case of Private Denny, Company E, already mentioned : 

Private William H. Thomas, Company B, for " sleeping 
on post." 

Private Frank L. Fisher, Company B, for " sleeping 
on post." 

Privates Thomas and Fisher when found asleep, were 
awakened and cautioned by the officer of the guard as to the 
penalty they would incur by going to sleep while on sentry 
duty. Notwithstanding the caution they allowed themselves 
to fall asleep again while on guard, and in the same relief. 



222 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The findings of this Court were not promulgated in 
General Orders until March 7th. In the case of Thomas, 
he was found asleep on post 13, in front of regimental 
headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, between the hours of one 
and half-past one o'clock on the morning of February 
1 2th. He pleaded '^guilty" to the charge and specification. 
His plea was accepted, and, as it appeared that he was 
sick at the time and excused from duty by the surgeon, it 
was recommended that he be returned to duty. 

Private Fisher was found asleep on post 15, at the 
stable and quartermasters' department at Gentilly Bayou, 
between the hours of one and two o'clock on the morning 
of February loth. He pleaded "not guilty" to both 
charge and specification, and the Court on the evidence 
adduced found him "not guilty," and recommended that 
he be returned to duty. Fisher and Thomas, confined 
since February 12th, were released from confinement in 
the guard-house March i8th. 

Private Freeman Doane, Company F, was also found 
asleep on post at Lakeport on the twenty-ninth of April, 
and placed in arrest. Upon examination of the case 
Captain Cogswell was so well satisfied that Doane was 
sick and not fit to have been placed on sentry duty, being 
under the surgeon's care, that he asked for and obtained 
his release the next day. 

Lieutenant Albert E. Proctor, Company G, acting regi- 
mental quartermaster, met with a very serious accident on 
the morning of the twentieth by being thrown from his 
horse, in front of headquarters, immediately after mount- 
ing, preparatory to proceeding to the city on official 
business, sustaining a fracture of the right arm near the 
socket of the shoulder, which incapacitated him from 
further duty with the regiment during its term of service. 
A moment before he left headquarters in fine spirits, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 223 

and when brought in looking deathly pale everybody 
present was dumfounded. Luckily, Assistant - Surgeon 
Heintzelman was present on duty with the regiment, 
having reported at camp March ist. He immediately 
made a careful examination of the fracture, properly 
bandaged it, and prepared everything to make Proctor 
■comfortable until he arrived at the hospital in New 
Orleans, where he was sent the same day and had his 
arm reset. Lieutenant Proctor showed true fortitude 
throughout the day. Not a groan escaped his lips, 
although the pain he suffered was excruciating. He gave 
proper directions for the continued performance of his 
duties and what disposition to make of unfinished busi- 
ness he had on hand with utmost sang-froid. 

Lieutenant Proctor was a twin brother of Captain Alfred 
N. Proctor, Company G, then a prisoner of war in Texas. 
It was difficult to say who was who, even when seen 
together. The lieutenant remarked, soon after the acci- 
dent to himself, that his brother Alfred had met with an 
accident also. His reason for thinking so was because a 
sympathetic feeling had always existed between them. 
As a matter of fact. Captain Proctor did have one of the 
bones of an ankle broken while wrestling with Sergeant 
Wentworth, March 27 th. 

Until May 20th, when Quartermaster Burrell reported 
back for duty, having been relieved as acting brigade- 
•quartermaster, when Colonel Cahill, Ninth Connecticut 
Volunteers, superseded Colonel Farr, the active duties of 
the position were well performed by Acting Quartermaster- 
Sergeant Alonzo I. Hodsdon, corporal in Company D. 

The regiment was fortunate in having good quarter- 
masters during the term of service, and in obtaining 
supplies of proper food. The salt meats, coffee, potatoes, 
bread, etc., were of excellent quality. It was necessary 



2 24 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

only once (May 15th) during the entire term of service to 
call for a Board of Survey to examine into the quality of 
subsistence stores received from the Commissary Depart- 
ment. Quartermaster Burrell was socially one of the best 
of men, with business qualifications for his duty of a high 
order. Acting-Quartermaster Proctor was also adapted 
to fill the position, and was a jovial man. Corporal 
Hodsdon, without a business training to fit him to hold 
such a position at once, had mastered the details to such 
extent from his connection with the department that 
during the time he performed the duties everything went 
along smoothly. 

At the close of April there were present for duty in the 
four companies at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, thirteen 
officers and three hundred and fifty-six men. Sick in regi- 
mental hospital : one officer (Lieutenant Harding, Com- 
pany K, who arrived April 27th, sick with fever), andj 
twenty-one men. Thirteen men were sick in quarters. 
The average sick per day for the month had been : taken 
sick, four; returned to duty, four; in hospital, twenty 
in quarters, fourteen. One man died at the camp hospital 
of typhoid fever. Private Frank Covell, Company G, a 
paroled prisoner, April 22d. The body was embalmed 
and sent home. Private Covell, quite young in years, was| 
careless of his health. He would insist on sleeping at| 
night in the open air instead of under tent cover, exposed 
unprotected to change in the atmosphere, usually veryj 
rapid after nine o'clock. Repeated cautions not to do so 
were given him. Company G was unfortunate at this 
camp in the loss of men by death from disease. The other 
companies of paroled men, D and I, did not lose a man. 

At Bayou Gentilly the night air was treacherous andl 
dangerous. In good weather the days, at this season of 
the year, would be hot and sultry up to about ten o'clock 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 225 

in the night, when changes would commence to occur, 
becoming damp and hazy. About midnight sentinels were 
obliged to wear their great- coats. Many men would 
persist in sleeping upon the ground in the open air, 
regardless of repeated warnings not to do so. When the 
midnight change took place, if they by chance awoke, 
they would occupy their tents. This careless habit caused 
much sickness in the regiment from bowel complaints and 
fevers, that was charged by the sufferers to bad quality 
of rations issued. 

Discipline of the camp continued good, and the paroled 
men behaved well under their enforced idleness. Very 
few men absented themselves without leave. Corporal 
Clapp, Privates Holt, Barnard and Davis, all from Com- 
pany G, tried it on and were picked up by the patrol 
in New Orleans, April 4th. Privates Dolan, Dellanty, 
Contillon and Morgan, all from Company I, were bagged 
by the patrol on the fifth, and Private Marshall, Company 
G, was arrested by the police of New Orleans, April 12th. 
These men were returned to camp by the provost-marshal 
in one or two days after their arrest. 

Two deserters reported back to the regiment this month : 
Private Chauncy Converse, Company K, on the eleventh ; 
Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, on the twenty-fifth. 

While able to furnish details of skilled mechanics, if 
wanted, on a call for telegraph operators, made on the 
twenty-ninth, to do duty in the Defences of New Orleans, 
a careful inquiry failed to find any — the only request ever 
made by a general officer, either of brigade or division, 
that the Forty-Second Regiment was not able to meet. 



226 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER IX. 
At Bayou Gentilly — May. 

AFTER hot weather fairly set in not much time was 
occupied in drill at Gentilly Camp. When the 
many details for regular camp and extra duty had been 
provided, there were few men left to go on drill. Most of 
the drills were by company, after Companies A and F had 
been detached. Previous to that time a battalion drill 
was in order every morning, after guard-mounting, either 
in command of the lieutenant-colonel or the major. 

On the seventh General Sherman inspected the regi- 
ment in camp and the detachments at Batteries Gentilly 
and St. John. The number of men under inspection was 
not large, but they looked well and in good condition. 
The next day, eighth, to relieve the dull routine of camp 
life. Companies B and E, then remaining in camp, were 
marched along the Ponchartrain Railroad to Lakeport, 
there joined by men from Companies A and F, and an 
exhibition dress parade gone through with. After lying 
in the close camp at the bayou, this change, even for a 
short time, to the cool breezes of the lake shore, was 
very agreeable. 

Orders were received at 9.15 a.m., May 9th, from divi- 
sion headquarters, for all men that could be mustered of 
the detached portions of the second division to imme- 
diately report, in heavy marching order, on Canal Street, 
in New Orleans, for review. The men were at once got 
under arms and marched into the city, arriving fifteen 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 227 

minutes too late to take part. One brigade (the Third) 
was absent on a reconoissance ; only the First and Second 
Brigades were in line. They made a handsome appear- 
ance. The One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York 
Infantry (Second Duryea Zouaves), Lieutenant-Colonel 
Smith in command, carried off the honors for best con- 
dition in everything. 

Various rumors were in circulation in the city about this 
review, some people insisting upon it that the army under 
General Banks had fallen back from the Teche campaign, 
and the troops under review were a part of that army. 
Others said that General Banks had met with a bad 
defeat, and the troops were under orders to reenforce 
him. Numerous citizens industriously asked questions of 
the men at every opportunity ; but, to give credit where it 
is due, the news they received must have puzzled if it did 
not mislead them. The men got the hang very quickly of 
what they were after, and acted accordingly. If instruc- 
tions had been issued to cover such an attempt of the 
enemy's spies to obtain information, they could not have 
been obeyed any better than was the case. 

The true cause of such a hurried review of this division 
was soon apparent. General Sherman had received orders 
to report at Baton Rouge with two brigades. His three 
brigades, assigned to the Defences of New Orleans, were 
scattered along the various forts and entrances to the city, 
while the brigade not on review was distant some thirty 
miles on a reconnoissance ; yet, in thirty-six hours after 
receipt of his orders, General Sherman had been rejoined 
by his Third Brigade, transferred some regiments of the 
Second to the First and Third, leaving the Second Brigade 
in the Defences, and was on his way, via the river, to 
Baton Rouge with two brigades to join General Augur in 
a demonstration against Port Hudson. 



2 28 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

During the entire month men at Gentilly Camp and 
picket-stations on the lake were kept in a condition to 
move in twenty-four hours' notice, in obedience to an 
order issued by the division commander. This was sup- 
plemented on the twenty-eighth by a confidential circular 
issued, to keep a careful watch and supervision at each 
camp and post, in such a manner as not to attract atten- 
tion or excite alarm. All officers and men were obliged 
to remain in camp ready for any duty. Nothing of impor- 
tance transpired during this time to furnish a key to these 
instructions. Perfect order and quiet reigned within the 
limits of the Defences of New Orleans. 

Some changes in the commanding officers took place 
Colonel Cahill, Ninth Connecticut Infantry, assumed com- 
mand of the brigade on the ninth, and General Emory 
assumed command of the Defences New Orleans on the 
nineteenth. 

No changes took place in the stations occupied by the 
Forty-Second. Companies A and F remained on picket 
at the lake. By Department General Orders, No. 35, 
issued April 27th, registered enemies of the United States 
were ordered, peremptorily, to leave the Department on 
or before May 15th. Many of them were sent by the 
provost-marshal-general 7}ia the lake. This placed extra 
duty on the men of the Forty-Second stationed there, as 
all of their baggage had to be overhauled and inspectec 
upon the wharf before leaving, and guards furnished t( 
steamers transporting them to points across the lake 
and on the Gulf shore. Large numbers were taken to 
Madisonville, Manderville, Pass Christian, Biloxi, Missis- 
sippi City, Pascagoula, and to Mobile. 

Many captures were made of small boats endeavoring 
to get across the lake with supplies for the enemy. The 
occupants in every case escaped, for Department General 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 229 

Orders, No. 37, issued April 29th, announced that any 
person convicted before the commanding general of fur- 
nishing supplies to the enemy would suffer the penalty of 
death. In spite of this order attempts were constantly 
made, but the parties engaged in such acts lost no time in 
taking to the swamps when discovered at it. 

The routine of guard and picket duty at this time is 
explained by the following letter to General Sherman : 

" Headquarters 42D Regiment, Mass. Vols., 
"Camp Farr, Bayou Gentilly, La., May 5th, 1863. 
"^/r, — I have the honor to acknowledge the reception 
of your communication of the fourth instant. I would 
respectfully report the following facts concerning the guard 
duties at the mouth of Bayou St. John. Captain H. S. 
Coburn, of Company A, has under his command at that 
place : one sergeant, four corporals and thirty privates. 
He furnishes three sentinel-posts : one, a picket of three 
men at the extreme end of the bayou, who are relieved 
every twenty-four hours, one man being on duty all the 
time ; the second post is at the quarters of the captain, 
and the third on the drawbridge across the bayou. These 
two posts are relieved every two hours by rotation of the 
men in the command. This manner of relieving the men 
at the last two posts is resorted to on account of the 
small command and to allow the men good rest between 
each tour of duty, for it often happens that six or ten men 
are called out in the night on extra duty, either to arrest 
some suspicious character or to watch for smugglers of 
contraband goods. One non-commissioned officer is 
detailed each day and has charge of the guard for the 
twenty-four hours, and his whole duty is to carefully 
observe all that is going on and to relieve the sentinels at 
proper hours. The reason of only five men appearing to 



230 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

be on duty at the time of the inspection was because the 
balance of the command was in line'. 

" In reference to the absence of the commanding officer 
at Bayou St. John, I have ascertained that he was away 
on Saturday afternoon at the lake-end of the bayou. 

" Captain Coburn has frequently occasion to visit the 
office of the provost-marshal-general, and he had been 
away that day. It is found necessary to keep one com- 
missioned officer at the mouth of the bayou all the time, 
for the purpose of examining passes, vessels, etc., going 
into and out of the bayou. Lieutenant Burrell has been 
in the habit of aiding Captain Coburn at times when he 
was in the city, and he was absent that day for this 
purpose. Captain Coburn having returned from General 
Bowen's office a short time previous to your visit. 

"Lieutenant Burrell has at Battery St. John thirty men. 
In reference to the absence of ten of his men, he reports as 
follows : two were away at Camp Farr for rations ; three 
were at the lake-end of the bayou for a few days on 
account of sickness, and the surgeon considered a change 
good for them ; two were in the city for a few hours on a 
pass ; the remaining three were absent for a short time 
preparing a boat for use, in duty at the bayou. 

"In regard to the strength of the guards within my 
command and the posts, I would respectfully report as 
follows : 

" I have in this camp two companies for duty, viz., B 
and E. The number of effective enlisted men by this 
day's report is one hundred and eighteen ; commissioned 
officers, five. At this camp and from these companies I 
mount a daily guard, consisting of one commissioned 
officer, five non-commissioned officers and twenty-seven 
privates. This guard furnishes nine sentinel-posts. Five 
of these posts are a camp-guard, one at headquarters, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 23 1 

one over the quartermaster's stores, one at the crossing of 
the Ponchartrain Raih-oad and the Gentilly road, and one 
picket-station on the railroad in the direction of the city. 

" At Battery Gentilly, near this camp, I have a detach- 
ment of Company A, consisting of one commissioned 
officer, two sergeants, three corporals and twenty privates. 
This detachment mans the guns, and for a guard mounts 
each day one non-commissioned officer and six men, fur- 
nishing two sentinel-posts : one on the parapet over the 
guns, and one as a picket-guard on the railroad and to 
prevent people from passing within the lines of the fort. 

" At Lakeport Company F is stationed, under command 
of Captain J. D. Cogswell. He has at the present time 
eighty effective men, including non-commissioned officers. 
For a guard he mounts daily twelve men, having four 
sentinel-posts : two of these posts are on the wharf, for 
the purpose of observing all that transpires within sight 
on the lake and to detain all boats and persons from 
leaving the wharf without a proper pass ; the second is at 
the entrance to the wharf, to keep order in the day-time, 
and to keep all persons from the wharf after nine p.m. ; 
the third post is a picket-post and is rather more than a 
mile from the village, on the shore of the lake, at the 
" White House," so called, for the purpose of observing 
all that transpires within sight of the lake, and to stop 
smugglers, etc. 

" Besides these he sends a picket of six men and one 
sergeant to Bayou Cashon (eight miles distant), and these 
are relieved weekly. This picket is supplied with a small 
boat and sail, and can thus have communication with the 
commanding officer at any time. 

" The schooner Hor-tejise is sent to this picket-station 
every other day with fresh water and rations. In addition 
to the above sentinels and pickets, one corporal and four 



232 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

men are kept on the schooner Hortense at all times, ready 
for duty ; also, two picket-boats have each a picked crew 
of one non-commissioned officer and two men, ready for 
duty at any time ; at night they cruise back and forth (one 
on each side), from a point off the end of the wharf to 
points two miles from the wharf, for the purpose of inter- 
cepting smugglers of contraband goods. 

" I believe the number of sentinels and location of all 
the posts in my command have now been stated, and I 
respectfully submit this report. 

"I have neglected to state the number of sentinels at 
Battery St. John. At that place a daily guard of two 
privates and one non-commissioned officer is detailed. 
This guard is increased by one man every night. The 
first post is upon the bridge on the west side, the second 
upon the bridge on the east side of the fort ; the extra 
man at night is placed on the parapet over the guns. 

" I have the honor to remain, 

" Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

"J. ^TYA^yih^, Lieutenant-Colo7iel, 

^^ C07nma7tding 42d Regt., Mass. Vols. 
" To Captain Wickham Hoffman, A. A. General, 

^'' Second Division, igth Army Corps, New Orleans. ^^ 

From the main camp at the bayou various details of 
men were made for all sorts of duty : 

On the seventeenth — Company E proceeded to New 
Orleans and acted as a funeral escort to the remains of 
Captain Albert Coan, Company A, Twelfth Maine, who 
was buried from the St. James Hospital. 

On the nineteenth — Sergeant Turner, Corporals Lowey 
and Turner, and seven privates of Company B, Corporal 
Lovly and five privates of Company E, in heavy marching 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 233 

order, relieved a guard of the One Hundred and Sixty- 
Fifth New York at the University Hospital, on Baronne 
Street, New Orleans ; relieved in turn, on the twenty- 
seventh, by Sergeant Emerson, Corporal Southworth and 
six privates of Company E, and Corporals Fales, Wales, 
and six privates of Company B. 

On the twenty-second — Two corporals and two privates 
from Company E, with four privates from Company B, 
were detailed for guard duty at the headquarters of 
General Emory, in the city. 

The extra-duty detailed men were few : 

May 13th — Corporal Henry Mellen, Company E, was 
made orderly at brigade headquarters, serving until 
relieved in July. 

May 24th — Private Frank A. Smith, Company F, was 
made orderly at brigade headquarters, serving until 
relieved in July. 

April 28th — Private Chauncey K. Bullock, Company D, 
was placed on duty as hostler at brigade headquarters 
until relieved May 19th. 

Some men of the paroled camp, to vary the tedium 
of their life, began to trespass upon private property in 
the neighborhood. It was trivial in its nature, but, on 
complaint being made, orders were issued, April ist, to 
stop such trespassing. This order not having the desired 
effect, a Board of Inquiry was held May loth, at the paroled 
camp, to ascertain the basis of complaints that were made 
of destruction of fences and depredations upon property. 
The result was to locate the breach of orders on a few 
unprincipled paroled men, and to clearly establish that 
the greater number were behaving in a most praiseworthy 
manner. 

On the seventeenth of June Privates Thomas F. Igo, 
Thomas P. Contillon and Thomas Dellanty, paroled men 



234 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

of Company I, were placed in arrest on a charge of dis- 
turbing persons and property near the camp ; the only 
cases where discipline had to be enforced to stop it. 

The bad feeling displayed by the Ninth Connecticut 
men at Lakeport towards Company F was renewed by 
men of that regiment detailed for provost-guard in New 
Orleans, towards men from the Forty-Second who were 
in the city on furlough. It culminated in a cowardly 
attack on Sergeant Waterman, Company D, and was the 
cause of another complaint being made on the twelfth of 
May, this time to the provost-marshal. The facts are set 
forth in the following letter : 

" Headquarters Forty-Second Mass. Vols., 
"Camp Farr, Bayou Gentilly, La., May 12th, 1863. 

" Sir^ — I would respectfully bring to your notice and 
attention the manner in which one of the members of the 
provost-guard treated several enlisted men of this command 
after having demanded their passes, seen them, and pro- 
nounced them correct. The circumstances are as follows : 

"Orderly-Sergeant Waterman, Sergeants Hewins and 
Sawyer, Corporal Merrill, and two privates of this regi- 
ment, paroled but unexchanged prisoners of war, were in 
New Orleans on Saturday, the ninth inst., for the purpose 
of witnessing the brigade review on that day, and, when 
coming down St. Charles Street, a soldier with a musket 
stopped them and demanded their passes; they were shown 
and pronounced correct. This man, representing himself as 
a member of the patrol, made some insulting remarks to 
Orderly-Sergeant Waterman and then seized him by the 
throat, whereupon the sergeant shook him off. The 
patrol then fixed his bayonet and charged upon Sergeant 
Waterman, striking him in the breast and inflicting a 
slight flesh wound, at the same time calling the sergeant 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 235 

' a d — n son of a b — h ' ; at this point an officer came 
across tlie street and sent the whole party away. Up to 
the time of the officer making his appearance no other 
members of the patrol had been seen by any of the 
party alluded to, and the man who stopped them had no 
stripes or insignia of office on his clothing. The name of 
this patrol has since been ascertained to be Corporal 
James Gibbens, Company I, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers. 

" The same day of the above occurrence Sergeant 
Waterman went up to the square to learn the name of 
the man who had assaulted him, and the lieutenant who 
commanded the guard that day refused to give it to him. 
After his interview with the lieutenant, this man, Gibbens, 
came along, and seizing Sergeant Waterman by the collar 
pushed him out of the square, at the same time calling 
him ' a nine-months' conscript son of a b — h,' also using 
much profane language. Other members of Gibbens' 
company stood looking on, advising him to kick the 
sergeant, break his head, etc. All this time Sergeant 
Waterman did not resist in any manner, or make any 
retaliatory reply. 

"I believe that I can prove that said Gibbens has 
several times before this stopped soldiers in the street 
and demanded their passes, even when he had no arms 
and was entirely unaccompanied by any patrol or member 
of the provost-guard. Trusting that this matter may 
receive a rigid investigation, 

" 1 have the honor to remain, 

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"J. '^TY.Vi^h^, Lieutenant-Colo7iel, 

" commanding 42 d Regf., Mass. Vols. 

"To Major Von Herman, 

''' commanding P7'0V0st-Giiard^ New Orleans.''^ 



236 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The provost-marshal promised to look into the affair 
and report what was done about it. Nothing further was 
heard about the matter. 

With warm weather rapidly setting in, the unacclimated 
officers and men of the Forty-Second began to swell the 
sick list. Assistant-Surgeon Hitchcock, in charge of the 
regimental hospital, had been ordered to Berwick Bay on 
special duty April 19th, where a large number of sick and 
convalescent men from the army operating in the Teche 
district were in hospitals. On his departure, Assistant- 
Surgeon Heintzelman assumed charge of the regimental 
hospital at Bayou Gentilly, with the following organization : 
Private Charles H. Warren, Company F, acting hospital- 
steward ; Private Thomas M. Lewis, Company D, ward- 
master; Private James Mitchell, Company B, nurse; 
Private William F. Lacount, Company F, nurse ; Private 
Edwin Rycroft, Company K, nurse ; Private John W. 
Robinson, Company K, nurse ; Private Hiram B. Douglass, 
Company K, nurse ; Private William Harris, Jr., Com- 
pany I, cook ; Private Archibald McDollen, Company E, 
cook. The arrangements of the hospital under Surgeon 
Heintzelman were excellent. He won the good opinion 
of all the men, with the exception of those who failed to 
play their points upon him by playing sick. His expe- 
rience and knowledge promptly detected all such cases at 
surgeon's call in the morning ; the men being promptly 
returned back to their companies as fit for duty. These 
qualities in any officer never fails to command the good 
will, respect and confidence of the majority of men over 
whom he has control, for they feel that no shirks can 
cause extra duty to fall on other shoulders, because they 
cannot successfully evade it. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman and Major Stiles were on 
the sick list ; the major in May and through June. Lieu- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 237 

tenant Harding recovered and went to Port Hudson, May 
25th, to join his company. 

At the close of May there was present for duty, under 
orders of the lieutenant-colonel, seventeen officers and 
three hundred and fifty-seven men. Sick in regimental 
hospital, twenty-five men ; and in quarters, ten men. The 
average sick per day for the month had been : taken sick, 
four; returned to duty, four; sick in hospital, twenty-four; 
sick in quarters, thirteen. On the seventeenth there were 
fifteen men of Company K in hospital, and on the twenty- 
third seventeen men of that company ; nine of them were 
returned to duty on the twenty-sixth. About all sickness 
this month was among the men on duty. The paroled 
prisoners were in good health. Only one man of Company 
D was in hospital May 31st. Companies G and I did not 
have a case. 

One death occurred. Private John H. Cary, Company 
G, May 6th, from delirium tremens, and he was buried 
near the camp. The case of Private Cary was the result 
of hard drinking. His body was found, badly decomposed, 
in the swamp by the roadside, not far fron. '^amp, on the 
thirteenth of May. Cary had been a hard drinker ever 
since his return from Texas, and shown such symptoms of 
delirium as to cause a watch to be kept on him. On the 
evening of the sixth he managed to get out of his tent 
without attracting the attention of any one, and imme- 
diately, it would seem, took to the swamp in the place 
where found, and there died. He was missed soon 
after disappearing, and for a week diligent search was 
made to find him. An impure odor, caused by decom- 
position of the body, attracted the attention of some 
members of the regiment passing by upon the road ; 
they searched the swamp and found him. He was sitting 
at the foot of a tree, grasping with both hands the 



238 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

roots, with his legs immersed in mud almost to the 
knees. Thick bushes bordering on the swamp edge, 
by the roadside, screened him from being seen and pre- 
vented an earlier discovery. Gary was put in a box by 
the help of an old colored man, called John, who chopped 
wood in the camp. No one else could be induced to 
touch the body ; but old John said : " I not afraid of a 
' Yankee ' soger, sah ! No sah, dead or alive, sah ! " 
The remains were buried the same day with appropriate 
ceremonies. 

This negro, John, was a camp follower from the time 
the regiment went into camp at Gentilly until it embarked 
for the North. He was formerly a slave, and lived a long 
distance from camp, but was always on hand at reveille, 
remaining until Peas on a Trencher, doing all the hard 
work of camp, splitting wood, getting water, etc., etc., and 
would work steady in the hottest sun, with perspiration 
coming from the pores of his skin like water. He worked 
for small pay ; for a small sum of money sang the old 
religious hymns the negroes in that locality sang at their 
prayer meetings, danced as plantation darkies can dance, 
and was the jolliest old negro there was in camp. Old 
John's wife did a large amount of washing for the boys, 
which brought additional picayunes to his wallet, and, 
although he made a few bad debts — some of the unprin- 
cipled men taking advantage of his ignorance to cheat 
him — on the whole, John made a good living from his 
labor for the Forty-Second. His boy was also a hanger-on 
at camp, but could not be made to do much work. This 
boy was a great imitator, and would watch attentively the 
drummers at practice, and soon became able to handle a 
drum with skill. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 239 



CHAPTER X. 

Bayou Gentilly — June — Farewell to Gentilly 
Camp — In New Orleans. 

THE month of May passed rapidly without the occur- 
rence of any event of importance to the regiment. 
With the commencement of June affairs in the Department 
began to assume such a shape as to lead officers of the 
Forty-Second to think the regiment was to get some service. 

Affairs at Port Hudson reached a stage when reenforce- 
ments were needed to maintain the effective strength of 
the army, and to continue the siege. Troops from Brashear 
City and Ship Island were ordered to Port Hudson, and 
from Key West and Pensacola to New Orleans, while the 
small garrison in the Defences of New Orleans had to be 
ready for instant service at all hours. It was evident to 
all hands the regiment was about to be concentrated, as 
far as possible, to be able to meet any emergency, and 
soon was it verified. 

The detachment at Battery St. John, about sixty men of 
Company A, w^s relieved by a detachment Fifteenth 
Massachusetts Battery, and returned to the regiment 
June ist. On the third the detachment under Lieutenant 
Martin Burrell, Jr., at Battery Gentilly, about twenty men, 
was also relieved by a detachment Fifteenth Massachu- 
setts Battery, and returned to the regiment. On the 
sixth Companies C and H marched into camp with about 
one hundred and forty men, from Camp Parapet, having 
been relieved from engnieer service. With the exception 



240 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

of a detachment Company A, about forty men, at Lake-end 
Bayou St. John, Company F at Lakeport, and Company K 
at Port Hudson, the regiment was again united. 

Upon receipt of orders from brigade headquarters to 
draw as many men as possible from the post at Lakeport, 
in case the regiment was ordered to move, leaving only a 
small picket-guard upon the Lake shore and a camp-guard 
to look after regimental property and the hospital at 
Gentilly, drills were immediately resumed to an extent 
allowed by hot weather, and inspections made to see if 
every man was in proper condition for duty. All parades 
of ceremony, drill and guard-mounting had to be made 
before eight o'clock a. m. or after six o'clock p. m. The 
sentinels had to have sun shelters erected, or were posted 
in the shade so far as practicable. 

The exact state of affairs was not generally known. A 
majority of the men refused to believe that any danger 
existed, or that the regiment would do any field duty, argu- 
ing that concentration meant the regiment was to proceed 
home promptly on the expiration of its time of enlistment, 
June 25th, as they claimed. This was not so, and could 
not be. 

At this time the entire Second Brigade, Second Division, 
Nineteenth Corps, composed of two New York batteries, 
three Massachusetts batteries, not equipped, one squadron 
cavalry, the Twenty-Sixth, Forty-Second and Forty-Seventh 
Massachusetts Infantry, Ninth Connecticut Infantry, a 
detachment One Hundred and Seventy-Fifth New York 
Infantry and Twenty-Eighth Maine Infantry, with some 
smaller detachments of troops, composed the garrison in 
New Orleans and its defences, who were under standing 
orders to be ready to move immediately with one hundred 
rounds of ammunition to each infantry-man. 

On the ninth, after a mixed detachment of one hundred 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 24I 

men under Captain Cook had left camp for Brashear City, 
everybody woke up and began to think there was music in 
the air, causing them to feel anxious for something to 
come next. Their anxiety was increased when Captain 
Cook and Lieutenant Clifford reported at the regimental 
hospital on sick leave, and told what a hole the detach- 
ment was in. 

The case of Captain Cook was singular. Other than a 
thick-coated tongue, the captain did not show any signs 
or symptoms of illness. He did not go into the hospital, 
but lived in his company tent, ate heartily, and acted in 
every way like a well man. Surgeon Heintzelman said, 
as his private opinion, that the case was one of fright. It 
is true that Captain Cook did not do any more duty 
during the regiment's term of service, but remained on 
the sick list. 

Two men were noticed lurking around camp on the 
nineteenth, and were recognized by some of the paroled 
men as Texans from the Confederate army. They were 
arrested, and claimed to have left the service and had 
taken the oath of allegiance. As General Emory had 
issued orders on the fourteenth to arrest and send to him 
any person found lurking around the forts or intrenched 
positions, they were sent to his headquarters for examina- 
tion. What became of them is not known. 

Positive information having been received that the 
enemy was raiding on the west bank of the river and 
threatened to cut communication with Brashear City, on 
the nineteenth all troops of the Second Brigade were 
again ordered to have two days cooked rations on hand, 
and be in readiness to move any moment, and Colonel 
Cahill was ordered to concentrate the brigade as much as 
possible. All officers and men, of all arms, whether on 
detached service, provost duty, or other duty, were under 



242 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

orders to hold themselves ready to move, vi^ith cooked 
rations and one hundred rounds each man. All out- 
lying companies were to be ready to move into the city at 
a moment's notice, except the guard over prisoners at 
Algiers and the troops at Pass Manchac. All leaves of 
absence were absolutely stopped, and every officer and 
man obliged to remain at their quarters. 

By the sudden departure of all available troops at New 
Orleans to reenforce Colonel Stickney at La-Fourche Cross- 
ing, orders were received at noon on the twenty-first, at 
the Forty-Second camp, to immediately report in Lafayette 
Square to General Emory, in heavy marching order. The 
picket-posts at Lakeport and Bayou St. John were also 
ordered to be weakened, that as many men as possible 
should join the regiment. At two p.m., having packed bag- 
gage and struck camp, leaving behind the surplus baggage, 
a hospital-guard and the paroled men of Companies D, G 
and I, the regiment proceeded by rail to the city, with a 
total effective strength of about two hundred men. 

On first receipt of marching orders a general impres- 
sion prevailed in the ranks that they were en-route for Port 
Hudson. The prospect of active field duty was hailed by 
every one with feelings of lively satisfaction. After lying 
inactive in camp for nearly the whole term of enlistment 
everybody thought the regiment was to see a little service 
before going home, and perhaps taste powder in a differ 
ent way than by biting cartridges when loading for guard 
duty. These feelings were dispelled on arriving at Lafayette 
Square, where the regiment was ordered to take possession 
of the Ninth Connecticut Infantry camp and to do provost 
duty in the city ; a few days after joined by a detachment 
Twenty-Eighth Maine Infantry, from Camp Parapet. 

All convalescent men and stragglers in the city capable 
of bearing arms were collected together and made ready 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



243 



for duty in case of necessity. Private instructions were 
given Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, by General Emory, to 
have every available man in quarters ready for any emer- 
gency at a moment's notice. The regiment was kept so, 
for there could not have been over five hundred soldiers 
in the city from the twenty-first to the twenty-sixth. 

The city was remarkably quiet at this time. Movements 
of the troops were made so quietly the citizens were not 
aware of what was going on. There was no indication 
among the populace that the enemy were near, or expected 
to get near. Some of them must have been aware of it, 
but gave no outward sign. 

When the enemy ceased to seriously menace New 
Orleans, on the twenty-sixth, most of the troops at Boutee 
Station, on the Opelousas Railroad, returned to the city, 
including a part of the detachment Forty-Second, in com- 
mand of Lieutenant Tinkham, and the Ninth Connecticut 
Volunteers. They brought with them a small number of 
Texan prisoners, who looked more like Mexicans than 
Americans. They looked clean, were well clothed in 
loose-fitting trousers and jackets of gray cloth, with large, 
slouchy-looking, gray felt hats. Their blankets, carried 
slung over the shoulder, were of the best quality, in fact, 
better than those in use by men of the Forty-Second. 
The complexion of these prisoners was quite dark, and 
they had a savage look in their faces. 

Some slight disturbances, soon quieted, occurred between 
men of the Ninth Connecticut and Forty-Second Massa- 
chusetts, growing out of disputes as to who should occupy 
the tents in Lafayette Square. On this occasion the Ninth 
Connecticut again behaved in a disgraceful manner, more 
like rowdies and bullies than soldiers, and it appeared as 
though the line officers had no control over their men. 

The Forty-Second marched back to its old camp-ground 



244 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

at Bayou Gentilly, five miles in a hot sun, on the afternoon 
of June 27th. Camp was put in order and arrangements 
made for a long stay, the picket-post detachments rejoined 
their stations, when, the next morning, twenty-eighth, orders 
were received, by a mounted orderly, to report at once in 
the city at the Custom House and occupy quarters vacated 
by the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Infantry. The entire 
regiment, with the exception of small detachments left 
on picket-stations, arrived at the Custom House during 
the afternoon. 

This was a final farewell to Bayou Gentilly. The duty 
detachments left behind on this second breaking up of 
this camp were : two sergeants, four corporals and thirteen 
men of Company A, under Captain Coburn (who was not 
in condition for field duty), on picket at Bayou St. John ; 
four sergeants, three corporals and thirty-four men of 
Company F on picket at Lakeport ; Private Rufus C. 
Greene, Company G, placed on detached service June 25th, 
in command of picket-schooner Zr^r/<?^/j^/ a hospital-guard 
of one sergeant, two corporals, and eighteen men of Com- 
pany A. These picket-posts, the Gentilly Camp and 
paroled men were under command of Major Stiles, then 
not well and unfit for active duty. There were fifty-eight 
men under the surgeon's care June 28th ; twelve were 
returned to duty, and there was left, when the regiment 
moved, twenty-six men sick in hospital and twenty men 
sick in quarters. 

The accommodations for troops at the Custom House 
were not good, and it seems a pity and a shame men were 
obliged to occupy such dark, damp and feverish quarters 
for any length of time. No surgeon could sanction the 
quartering of troops in the manner they were placed at 
this Custom House, except under the most pressing cir- 
cumstances. The men were distributed in quarters, the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 245 

guard of the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts relieved, and by 
sunset the Forty-Second was in full possession of the New 
Orleans Custom House, with regimental headquarters 
established in a room formerly occupied by Major-General 
Butler. A few officers, who did not like their quarters, 
provided for themselves elsewhere in the neighborhood. 
This could not be tolerated at the time, owing to the 
peculiar position of affairs ; General Emory insisted on all 
officers quartering with their men. 

At midnight, on the twenty-ninth, the long-roll called the 
regiment to arms, and crossing Algiers Ferry to Algiers, a 
reconnoissance was made for some miles to find the 
enemy's cavalry, reported to be on the river road below 
that town. None were found, or any traces of them, and 
at eight o'clock a.m. next day the regiment was back in 
quarters again. On this occasion Company C was thrown 
out in skirmishing order to move down the road and over 
fields that bordered on a woody swamp, and here they 
first discovered those watermelon patches which they after- 
wards despoiled of the luscious fruit. That night march, 
who can forget it ? Awakened from a sound sleep, clothes 
and equipments put on quick, ferried across to Algiers, 
and then marched down a lonely road for several miles on 
a hunt for an imaginary foe. Lucky was the man who 
wore his overcoat, for the air was damp and chilly, though 
it was in June. Every sentry on guard at storehouses 
along the river front of Algiers was dressed in his great- 
coat ; experience had taught them to fear the treacherous 
midnight air. 

An effort was made by General Banks to reenlist men 
from the nine months' troops for one, two, or three years, 
at their option. For some reason it was not successful. 
From the Forty-Second the only man who reenlisted was 
Musician Bernard McKenna, Company C, who was dis- 



246 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

charged May 25th to reenlist as a bugler in the Twenty- 
Sixth New York Battery. The same date, Lewis Eddy, 
drummer in Company D, was discharged by Department 
orders, and returned home. 

In connection with this reenlistment attempt, more men 
from the Forty-Second would have done so but were 
unable, on account of disqualifications or irregularity on 
the part of recruiting officers. Privates Diomede Roseline, 
Company G, Luigi Briana, Company D, and John Brown, 
Company G, offered to enlist in a battalion called the 
First Louisiana Sharpshooters. Roseline and Brown were 
under parole and could not do so until duly exchanged, 
and Briana was not a member of the regiment. Somebody 
had given an alias to Captain Salla, commanding the First 
Louisiana ; who it was could not be ascertained. Privates 
Charles Slattery and George Ward, Company C, were 
claimed by Lieutenant Whitaker, Second Rhode Island 
Cavalry, as having reenlisted in that regiment, but they 
changed their minds before they could be mustered in. 

At the close of June there was present for duty in New 
Orleans, twelve officers and three hundred and eighty-two 
men. Sick in hospital and quarters, five officers and 
forty-six men. Twenty-nine of the men were in the regi- 
mental hospital at Bayou Gentilly. The officers sick and 
not on duty were : Adjutant Davis, Captain Cook, Com- 
pany B, Captain Emerson, Company E, and Lieutenant 
Tinkham, Company B. Adjutant Davis was absent from 
June 25th to July 9th ; Lieutenant Powers, who was 
relieved from charge of the paroled camp by Major 
Stiles, acted as adjutant during that time. 

The average sick per day for the month had been : 
taken sick, five ; returned to duty, four ; sick in hospital, 
twenty-one ; sick in quarters, thirteen. 

The extra-duty details for June were : 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 247 

June 8th — Sergeant T. M. Turner, Compan}^ B, and 
Sergeant George Bell, Company C, as color-bearers. 

June 8th — Privates Everett A. Denny, Company E, and 
John A. Paige, Company B, as clerks at headquarters 
Defences of New Orleans. Private Paige returned to his 
company for duty June 26th. 

June 14th — Corporal Alfred Thayer was made chief- 
wagoner, vice Wagoner John Willy, Company B, ordered 
to his company. Private George A. Davis, Company D, 
on duty in Company E, was made wagoner. Private 
Warren A. Clark, Company B, was made wagoner. 

The deaths in June were : 

June 5th — Private Nelson Wright, Company E, typhoid 
fever. 

June 13th — Private Buckley Waters, Company E, chronic 
diarrhoea. 

June 19th — Private Lewis E. Wales, Company B. 
typhoid fever. 

June 30th — Private Benjamin Gould, Company G, con- 
gestion of the brain. 

The case of Private Waters was not considered fatal up 
to the time of his death. The surgeons were inclined to 
think he was suffering more from home-sickness than 
disease. He died quietly in the evening, as the glee 
club, composed of Sergeant Hunt, Company I, Sergeant 
Waterman, Company D, Quartermaster Burrell, and Lieu- 
tenant Powers, Company F, were singing an appropriate 
song in the headquarters office, adjoining the hospital 
ward. They did not know that Waters was dying, and 
when the nurse asked some one in the ward to stop it 
Waters requested them not to do so, as he preferred to 
listen to the song. 

Notwithstanding the general orders issued April 24th 
by General Sherman, to prevent sending North bodies of 



248 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

deceased persons until after decomposition had ceased, in 
order to prevent any quarantine to Government vessels, 
the bodies of Privates Nelson Wright and Lewis E. Wales 
were prepared and partially embalmed by the regimental 
surgeons for transportation home. 

The operation was performed in the rear of the hospital, 
a guard being posted to prevent men from coming near 
who had curiosity to witness it. The skin upon the chest 
was first cut, and after removing a small bone in the 
upper part was laid back upon each side a sufficient dis- 
tance for work. Interior parts of the chest were then 
taken out and examined, followed by removing the bowels ; 
the vacant space thus left was filled with charcoal, the 
skin replaced and sewed together. The body was then 
packed in liquor, with the heart separate, and was ready 
to be sent home. The parts of bodies removed were 
properly buried. This process is similar to that of dress- 
ing cattle for market. 

Private Wright, according to the surgeons' testimony 
who examined his lungs, could not have lived much more 
than a year longer, as they were diseased. 

Of those men who were curious to witness these opera- 
tions, some would stand, eyes wide open, with no evidence 
of any feeling more than of wonder that the surgeons 
could handle their knives with so much composure ; others 
would evince so much interest and desire to get near, in 
order to learn such secrets of the human system as they 
could, that they troubled the guards; while others had a 
look of sorrow on their countenances, and after a short 
stay would saunter slowly away in deep thought. No man 
knew whether he would or not be treated in the same 
manner in case he sickened and died. 

Bodies sent home were invariably escorted a certain 
distance from camp by the regular Guard of Honor detail, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 249 

according to the rank held by the deceased, with arms 
reversed, followed by the regiment with side arms, as 
mourners, the band playing a' dirge. On arrival at the 
prescribed distance three volleys were fired over the 
remains, when the regiment marched back to camp, while 
the body was carried to New Orleans in an ambulance, 
attended by a few members of the company to which the 
deceased belonged, and put aboard some steamer for New 
York. In all such cases burial service was held in front 
of the hospital, in presence of the regiment. 

The dead that were buried near camp were escorted to 
the grave, and burial service held there. After the ser- 
vice all passed around the coffin to take a last look of the 
remains before committal to the earth. Burials were 
solemn occasions, and it was plain to see such scenes were 
not without some influence on the men. He must be 
a hardened man who can gaze upon the remains of a 
departed comrade, perhaps a few weeks and sometimes 
only days before as full of life and hope as himself, but 
now cold, rigid and at rest, without some mysterious sensa- 
tion creeping over him. The chances were that any one 
was as likely in a short time to be an inhabitant of the 
same ground as the one just buried. 

All coffins were made of pine board, painted a dark 
brown color, filled with shavings on which to rest the 
body. They were very good for the kind, and answered 
the purpose for which they were intended. Each grave 
was marked with a head-board, on which was inscribed the 
name of deceased, rank, company, regiment, age, and 
time of death. 

Privates John H. Gary, Benjamin Gould, and Sergeant 
Philip P. Hackett, of Gompany G, Private Buckley Waters, 
Company E, Private Rufus G. Hildreth, Gompany G, and 
Private Thomas J. Glements, Gompany H, were buried at 



250 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Bayou Gentilly. Their graves were situated near three 
large oak trees, between them and the swamp, at the end 
of the Gentilly race-course, looking towards it from the 
Ponchartrain Railroad. Some three or four soldiers of a 
native guard regiment (Union colored troops) were also 
buried at the same spot. 

Chaplain Sanger officiated at these burial services. His 
remarks were generally to the point and well delivered. 
A brief resume of the deceased soldier's life, as far as 
known, was usually given, and a prayer offered for his 
relations. The chaplain always attended to notifying rela- 
tions of their loss, forwarding the personal effects, any 
rings or valuables, together with locks of hair taken from 
the person before burial. This duty was done well and 
conscientiously. It is not pleasant, however, to record 
that Chaplain Sanger was not popular with the command. 
A feeling was first manifested by the Galveston prisoners^ 
and by them communicated to the rest of the regiment. 
The only reason for this, so far as could be ascertained,, 
was that they did not like his behavior when the prisoners 
were marched from Texas to the Union lines. They 
accused him of neglect to their sick and suffering when he 
should have at least tried to do something for them ; of cur- 
rying favor with the Confederate officers in such a manner 
to lead them to suppose he was deficient in manly bearing. 

On this march Chaplain Sanger was sick with diarrhoea^ 
and remained so for some time after reaching regimental 
headquarters, a fact sufficient to account for any lack of 
energy he did display. He always spoke well of the men^ 
was anxious to do for their good and to gain their esteem. 
That he did not do so was a misfortune for both. Many 
regarded the chaplain as ranking among some of the best 
that left Massachusetts. Except a rather quick temper^ 
his personal behavior was in keeping with his profession. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



Private William F. Lacount, Company F, a hospital 
nurse, acted as chaplain on Sundays from the time the 
regiment arrived in Louisiana, in December, until Chap- 
lain Sanger returned with the paroled men, afterwards 
conducting divine service on the Sabbath at the paroled 
camp ; the chaplain officiating at the regimental camp. It 
was thought proper to have these separate services on 
account of the feeling prevalent. Private Lacount deserves 
much credit, more than he received, for the able and intel- 
ligent manner in which he performed these volunteer 
duties. He displayed a true Christian spirit and was 
satisfied in doing good. 



252 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER XI. 

BRASHEAR CITY. 

On Active Service — Action of June Twenty-third — 
Captured — Paroled and Returned to Algiers. 

COLONEL CAHILL, Ninth Connecticut Infantry, 
commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, Nine- 
teenth Army Corps, issued, June 9th, 1863, Special Orders 
No. 97, for Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to have Company 
B, with details from other companies sufficient to make 
the full strength three officers and one hundred men, with 
one day's cooked rations in the haversacks and at least 
forty rounds of ammunition to each man, proceed at once 
to Algiers and report to Captain Schenck, ordnance officer 
at the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Rail- 
road depot, for transportation to Brashear City, and there 
report to Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, Forty-Seventh Mas- 
sachusetts Infantry, commanding the post. 

Regimental Special Orders No. 107 were immediately 
issued, detailing Sergeant Charles L. Truchon, Corporal 
Francis N. Luce and eighteen privates of Company E, 

"Corporals Charles M. Harden, Smith and twenty-three 

privates of Company H, Corporal John F. Cushing and 
•eleven privates of Company A, to report to Captain Cook, 
commanding Company B. The lieutenants who accom- 
panied the detachment were First-Lieutenant Benjamin C. 
Tinkham and Second-Lieutenant Joseph C. Clifford, both 
of Company B. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 253. 

In heavy marching order this detachment left Gentilly 
Camp about half-past two o'clock the same afternoon 
orders were issued, and took the train for New Orleans, 
proceeding at once to Algiers, where a train made up of 
box and platform cars carried the men to Brashear City» 
They started about five o'clock and arrived about mid- 
night, after a tiresome ride of eighty miles. In passing 
through New Orleans to the Algiers Ferry suspicious 
actions of two privates in the detachment were noticed, 
and Sergeant T. M. Turner, Company B, was ordered to 
keep in the rear and watch them, to prevent their desertion, 
an object they evidently had in view. 

When General Banks made his first campaign through 
the Teche country towards Red River, in April and May^ 
1863, a garrison was left at Brashear City, and Berwick 
on the opposite side of the Atchafalaya River ; Colonel 
Walker, Fourth Massachusetts Infantry, in command of 
the post, with his own regiment, and the Sixteenth New 
Hampshire Infantry forming a part of the garrison. The 
post was a base of supplies for the army in the field, and 
contained general hospitals to relieve the field hospitals 
of sick and wounded men, who are always sent to the rear 
as fast as possible. Naturally, a large amount of army 
material would accumulate at such a post. 

From Algiers to La-Fourche the posts upon the rail- 
road line were occupied by the Twenty-Third Connecticut 
Infantry, and the posts from Terrebonne to Brashear 
were in charge of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth 
New York Infantry. 

All was quiet at these various posts until the latter part 
of May, the detachments on duty having what soldiers 
call " a soft thing." On the twenty-first of May Colonel 
Chickering, commanding Forty-First Massachusetts Infan- 
try, and other troops, convoying an immense train of six 



254 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

hundred wagons, three thousand horses and mules, one 
thousand five hundred head of cattle, with six thousand 
negro camp followers, who expected to locate on Govern- 
ment plantations in La-Fourche and adjoining parishes, 
leftBarre's Landing at daybreak on the march for Berwick, 
where he arrived May 26th, closely followed by the Con- 
federate forces operating under the command of Major- 
General " Dick " Taylor. By the thirtieth all of this 
force under Colonel Chickering had proceeded to Port 
Hudson, including the Fourth Massachusetts and Six- 
teenth New Hampshire Regiments. On June ist Colonel 
Holmes, Twenty-Third Connecticut, assumed command of 
Brashear City, with portions of his own regiment and that 
of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York in 
occupancy of the post. 

In a few days Colonel Holmes was taken sick, and, as 
Colonel Nott, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, 
was also sick, the command fell to Lieutenant-Colonel 

, Twenty-Third Connecticut. He, frightened by the 

situation of affairs and deficient in nerve, was relieved by 
General Emory, who sent Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney 
from New Orleans to take command. Stickney was on 
detached service from his regiment, having been made 
inspector-general of the Defences of New Orleans June 
6th, with orders to commence a thorough inspection of 
convalescent and other camps. 

The troops on duty in Brashear under Stickney comprised 
detachments from the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth 
New York, Twenty-Third Connecticut and Forty-Second 
Massachusetts Infantry, Twenty-First Indiana Artillery, 
one company of the Corps de'Afrique (colored troops), 
and various cavalry squads, in all about six hundred effec- 
tive men. Adjutant Whiting, Twenty-Third Connecticut, 
was post-adjutant; Quartermaster Kimball, One Hundred 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 255 

and Seventy-Sixth New York, post-quartermaster ; Lieu- 
tenant Kinsley, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts, was serving 
as an aide-de-camp. 

The post hospital contained many sick and wounded 
soldiers, who were removed to New Orleans when able to 
undergo the journey. At one time near one thousand 
convalescent soldiers, capable of bearing arms in an emer- 
gency, were in camp at Brashear. A large amount of 
baggage, commissary, quartermaster and medical stores, 
cannon, arms and ammunition was stored in various build- 
ings and places. Part of the baggage and stores was 
removed to Algiers previous to June 21st. 

Passing the night of their arrival in bivouac about the 
depot, next day the detachment was ordered by Stickney 
to quarter in the depot building, and do picket duty upon 
the railroad line and guard a water tank used by locomo- 
tives of the road. Excursions across the river to Berwick 
were in order almost every day, to drive out cavalry scouts 
of the enemy and obtain cattle. The enemy always 
returned when the way was clear for them to do so, and 
an exchange of shots across the river was of frequent 
occurrence. The weather was extremely hot. There was 
some movement made by the troops each day, with guard, 
patrol and picket duty to be done at night. Mosquitos 
were thick and blood-thirsty enough to cause refreshing 
sleep to be an impossibility. With difficulty could food be 
obtained to serve out with any semblance of regularity. 
Food was plenty, but there was no system in delivering 
rations. The men were gradually becoming worn out. 

The time and energy of all troops at the post was 
frittered away in this manner without any good accruing 
from it ; instead of devoting the same time and labor to 
what was absolutely needed, /. ^., to prepare defences for 
use in case of emergency, with plenty of idle convalescent 



256 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

men at hand capable of rendering assistance, besides a 
large number of negroes whose labor could be utilized. 
No intelligent attempt was made to organize the convales- 
cent men for service, or to render efficient a number of 
field-guns that were in Brashear, posted on the river front. 

The enemy was active in an annoying sort of way 
across the river, on the Berwick side, after it had been 
abandoned by troops of the garrison, and on the line of 
the Atchafalaya River. Danger of an attack existed from 
the first day of June.* , The officers of the Forty-Second 
detachment soon learned from various sources that the 
situation was rather ticklish. Even privates came into 
possession of information, from the many negroes in and 
around Brashear, that the enemy was up to mischief, and 
trying to get in between Brashear and New Orleans, upon 
the line of railroad. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney was not a man calculated 
to inspire confidence as to his military abilities. He had 
a habit of riding around, often alone, to give verbal- orders 
for all sorts of petty things, and to find fault with trifles. 
As to perfecting the organization of what troops he had, 
or establishing any system out of the chaos that existed, 
there seems to be but one verdict from those on duty 
under him. He did nothing. No one knew what the 
position of other bodies of troops would be in case of an 
attack ; no one knew what was expected or required to be 
done in case the enemy appeared. No one knew where 
to expect support in case of need, or to whom or how to 
render such support if wanted. Lieutenant Tinkham 
reports that there did not seem to be a head to anything. 

*The official report of General Banks mentions the fact that the officials at Bra- 
shear City were fully warned of danger, by orders, and the disaster was due to the 
carelessness and disobedience of subordinates. General Emory sent word by a 
steamer (after the telegraph line was severed) to hold out to the last. The place 
was captured before this steamer could arrive. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 257 

First-Sergeant Ballou reports that most of his time was 
occupied in finding food for the detachment, and that it 
appeared to him as though the Forty-Second were visitors 
who had remained too long, but did not leave because 
there was no one to tell them to go. The testimony of all 
the observing men is of a like nature. 

All the various detachments on duty had no knowledge 
of each other, were acting without concert, had never 
before co-operated, were entirely destitute of esprit de 
corps, while a half-regiment on duty would have had all of 
these essentials, so requisite to a body of men expected to 
defend an important post in daily danger of an attack. 
It would be safe to say, not in a boastful spirit, had the 
four or six companies of the Forty-Second Regiment, in 
camp at Bayou Gentilly and at the posts on Lake Ponchar- 
train, been at Brashear, that place would not have been 
lost without a fight of some duration. Under their own 
officers, the companies well acquainted with each other 
and of excellent material, cohesion and confidence would 
have existed, that made a gallant stand not only possible 
but almost certain. When Sir John Moore organized and 
disciplined the British army at Shorncliffe, it was on the 
basis of the regimental system. The object of this system 
was to make each regiment a living unit, by making 
officers and men thoroughly acquainted with each other. 
This engenders a feeling of close comradeship which is 
exemplified even now in the many regimental reunions 
that annually take place, where old times are revived and 
talked over without regard to present station in life. 

The Forty-Second Regiment, since the days of Readville 
Camp, had shown on several occasions this feeling of 
Comradeship. The men knew their officers (some of those 
officers better than they knew themselves), and with the 
companies at Gentilly Bayou were officers who had only 



258 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

to say what they wanted done, when the men would have 
done it without hesitation or fear. 

Urfder the circumstances, as they existed, the congrega- 
tion of troops at Brashear could not be expected to have 
done any better than they did. 

June 14th Captain Cook obtained sick leave, and returned 
to the regiment at Bayou Gentilly. The men said, "his 
boots hurt him." This hit can be appreciated by those 
who remember the elaborate high-top boots the captain 
was wont to wear. June i8th Lieutenant Clifford and a 
few enlisted men did the same thing. Lieutenant Clifford 
suggested to Lieutenant Tinkham how easily he could 
obtain sick leave also, if he desired ; but Tinkham refused 
to entertain such an idea, preferring to stand by his men, 
and remained, the only commissioned officer with the 
detachment. The same day Clifford left, Sergeant Albert 
L. Clark, Company B, then at Gentilly, was ordered to 
his company at Brashear. In view of what subsequently 
happened, it seems a pity that two officers from the regi- 
ment of sound judgment and undoubted courage were not 
ordered to Brashear also. 

The most extended scout in which any part of the 
detachment participated was on June 17th, when the 
steamer Kepper and gunboat Hollyhock, three guns, which 
had arrived on the sixteenth, carried a company One Hun- 
dred and Seventy-Sixth New York, a few cavalry, and a 
detachment Forty-Second Massachusetts, under Lieutenant 
Clifford, the entire force in command of a captain, One 
Hundred Seventy-Sixth New York, for a trip up the Bayou 
Teche to Pattersonville, on a foraging expedition. This 
expedition started at four o'clock in the morning. On 
landing, a skirmish line was formed and marched inland 
from the bayou. The line was then swung around in 
half-circle form, driving in all live stock that was found, 



(Jl 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 259 

aggregating some one hundred head of horses, nuiles, 
and cattle of all kinds. The day was, as usual, extremely 
hot, and when they arrived on the bayou the cattle were 
allowed a rest previous to attempting to make them take 
the water and be swum across. When a large bull had 
been caught, and by aid of boat and rope pulled into the 
water, with an encouraging prospect that the rest would 
follow, word was given by a lookout on the HoUyJiock, " the 
enemy's cavalry are coming ! " The usual exaggerated 
stories were afloat at once. The report gained credence 
that their force was five thousand strong. A cool head would 
have known better. As a matter of fact the enemy was not 
over one hundred strong, probably nearer fifty men, while 
the Federals numbered about one hundred and fifty men. 
Ordered to cease work, the troops hastened on board 
the Kepper, leaving the cattle to roam back to their homes 
and be picked up by the planters, who had followed the 
troops, protesting against taking their stock, for they were 
good Union men ; at the same time they undoubtedly con- 
veyed word to the enemy of what was going on. On 
arrival at Brashear, about five o'clock in the afternoon, it 
was found that quite a number of men were missing. The 
Kepper took aboard two guns, as an addition to her small 
armament, and volunteers were called for, to go back as a 
guard and assist in finding the stragglers. Tired and 
hungry as they were, without food all day (rations had not 
been carried in haversacks), volunteers were numerous. 
Going back a few miles, an exchange of shots with the 
enemy's cavalry took place. The infantry upon the Kepper 
fired away most of their ammunition without doing any 
execution, because the Confederate cavalry kept at a 
respectful distance. A hail from the right bank of the 
river disclosed all of the stragglers, about twenty and 
mostly New York men, who were taken on board. 



26o 



HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



On the way back to Brashear a sad accident happened 
to a private of the New York company, who was leaning 
upon his rifle, when it was by some accident discharged ; 
the ball entered his head, causing instant death. There 
were no other casualties during the day, unless what 
happened to Corporal Lowery, of Company B, can be so 
called. The corporal was out with a forage party when 
they came to a high board fence, and instead of lending 
a hand to break it down he chose to jump over at a place 
that was rather low, to land on the other side in a bee-hive. 
The bees stung him badly before he could get away from 
them. It was sport for lookers-on, but no fun for the 
corporal. 

On the morning of the twentieth, shortly after midnight. 
Sergeant Ballou with twenty men was sent upon the gun- 
boat Hollyhock to assist in obtaining and removing three, 
heavy cannon that were in battery upon an island in the] 
river, some few miles below Brashear City, where an earth-j 
work had been constructed named Fort Chene, garrisonedj 
by a detachment of the Twenty-First Indiana Artillery,] 
under Lieutenant Sherfy, and one company, about thirty] 
men, of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York,] 
under Lieutenant Kerby. It was understood that, by orders 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, the fort was to be evacuate( 
and destroyed, and the garrison, with the cannon, was t( 
proceed to Bayou Boeuff. 

Lieutenant Tinkham, with all the business on his hands 
that one man would care to undertake, had not been abk 
to obtain any sleep for many hours, and had just lah 
down to take some needed rest, immediately after th^ 
detail of men for the gunboat had started, when a trail 
of cars was run into the depot. Thinking it strangej 
with his curiosity aroused to learn what was taking placej 
caused him to remain wide awake while the rest of his 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 26 1 

men slumbered. Very soon after detachments of the One 
Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York and Twenty-Third 
Connecticut Infantry, without music, quietly filed into the 
depot in light marching order. Still watching what was 
going on, Stickney approached and wanted to know why 
the men of the Forty-Second were not ready to board the 
train. No orders had been received to that effect from 
any source, and so Tinkham informed him. Stickney 
disputed this, and curtly gave the detachment a limited 
number of minutes to get ready. The time was extremely 
short, and without rations the lieutenant with about fifty 
men, all there was with him at the time, took the train and 
left Brashear City for La-Fourche. Orders were left with 
the sentries on duty for Sergeant Ballou to follow as soon 
as possible with the balance of the detachment. General 
Emory had telegraphed from New Orleans for Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stickney, with all of his available force, to pro- 
ceed to La-Fourche, as the enemy might attempt to sever 
communications. 

The departure of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney left Major 
Anthony, Second Rhode Island Cavalry, in command of 
the post. It seems that Lieutenant Colonel Stickney, 
for some trivial matter, had placed Lieutenant-Colonel 
Duganne, commanding One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth 
New York, under arrest on the sixteenth, but had released 
him from arrest on the evening of the eighteenth, with an 
understanding that Duganne would report for duty in a 
few days, that officer pleading illness as a reason for not 
returning to duty immediately. Abruptly ordered away 
at midnight, before Duganne was on duty, caused Sticknev 
to place the post in command of Major Anthony, the next 
senior officer fit for duty in Brashear. This should not 
have prevented Duganne, by virtue of his senior rank, 
assuming command the next day, twentieth, when he 



2 02 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

returned to duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne was in 
command of troops in the garrison ; Major Anthony 
was not. Even if Duganne had done so, that any 
prompt measures for defence, backed up by pluck and 
determination, would have been attempted is very doubt- 
ful. The defence of Bayou Bceuff by this officer answers 
the doubt. 

Major Anthony did not possess the qualities to make a 
successful soldier. There were line officers in the One 
Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, on duty under 
him, more competent to assume command. A good idea 
of the kind of soldier Major Anthony was is afforded 
by an incident that occurred on a scout made on the 
Berwick side. Some of the Forty-Second detachment on 
this scout, under Captain Cook, inclined to have some fun 
out of it, on the sly would dig the pigs in their vicinity, 
that were running around loose, with the points of their 
bayonets, causing them to give an occasional squeal. To 
this amusement the major took exceptions, and because 
Captain Cook could not detect men in the act, or cause 
them to stop, he was threatened with arrest by the gal- 
lant major. 

What did it matter if a few pigs were touched up with 
bayonets ? there was work to do of more importance 
than to fret and fume over a thing so insignificant ; 
but so it was with the post-commanders at Brashear in 
June, 1863. Instead of bending their energies and giv- 
ing their time and thought to the critical situation of 
affairs, they preferred and did do nothing but put on 
airs about trifles. 

Sergeant Ballon, with his men, arrived at the depot from 
Fort Chene about daylight with the guns. The guard, 
about twenty men under Sergeant Turner, that had been 
sent out early on the morning of the nineteenth for 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 263 

twenty-four hours duty at the water tank, situated nearly 
a mile from the depot upon the railroad line, came in 
about the same time. The men were mustered and found 
to number forty-five. 

Everything had the appearance that morning of an 
intention to vacate Brashear. The remaining cars, about 
fifty, mostly box cars, were made up into a train, with half 
of them loaded with stores of all kinds, the other half 
occupied by all of the men who could go. With the 
locomotive La-Fourche attached, it was about four o'clock 
in the afternoon when a start was made. Upon stopping 
at Bayou Boeuff, seven miles out, the rumor was current 
there, among the troops and people, that the force 
which left Brashear early that morning had been taken 
prisoners at La-Fourche, the track torn up, and the enemy 
waiting for the next train to come along. The train 
was run some thirteen miles further and then stopped 
near Chucahoula by some whites and blacks, who sig- 
nalled the engineer. 

As previously instructed, on coming to a stop, one-half 
of the troops formed upon each side of the train and 
awaited orders. No reconnoissance was made. A Captain 
Bailey, deputy provost-marshal at Houma, had arrived at 
Brashear during the day and reported " rebs " upon the 
road between Houma and Tigerville. This report was 
undoubtedly true, for the enemy scouted continually upon 
all of the roads in La-Fourche Parish ; still an armed 
reconnoissance by the troops might have developed a 
fighting chance to get through by a bold dash. As it was, 
no enemy was seen, although they may have been in 
ambush. Most of the. soldiers were chagrined at going 
back without an attempt to push through to La-Fourche 
Crossing, eight miles further on. Telegraphic communica- 
tion had been severed between Brashear and La-Fourche 



264 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND RIlGIMENT, 

during the day, and the report that a rebel battery and 
cavalry commanded the track was accepted as gospel 
truth by some of the officers, and in a short time the 
train was ran back slowly to Brashear, arriving about ten 
o'clock the same evening. The Forty-Second detachment 
again occupied the depot buildings without orders from 
any source. 

Berwick City was shelled, set on fire, and partially des- 
troyed by the gunboat Hollyhock during the afternoon, after 
the train left Brashear. The light of burning buildings 
was visible to those upon the train as they were returning. 
It is supposed that the gunboat commander considered the 
evacuation completed when the train started, and that it 
would run through without any trouble ; then shelling 
Berwick, in retaliation for the annoyance from there by 
the enemy, and taking on board a few officers and 
men, had steamed down the river out of the enemy's 
range and there remained to watch further Confederate 
movements. 

A heavy rain-storm set in the next day, Sunday, June 
21st, in the afternoon, continuing that day and all night. 
Some of the negroes were armed, equipped, and organized 
into a company, by a few of the non-commissioned officers 
of the Forty-Second detachment. Late in the afternoon 
Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne collected all the men of his 
regiment he could and proceeded to Bayou Boeuff, in 
accordance with an understanding with Major Anthony. 
Captain Hopkins, with a company Twenty-Third Con- 
necticut, was stationed at Bayou Ramos, six. miles from 
Brashear, to guard the railroad bridge. These disposi- 
tions appear to have been foolishly made. They were 
thus strung seven miles out from Brashear, without any 
food supply except what could be daily sent to them by 
cars, instead of concentrating at Brashear, where danger 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 265 

existed, and all of the necessary equipment was on hand 
for defence and to subsist, if properly applied.* 

When Stickney left for La-Fourche with all of the 
troops not on duty as guards, pickets, or were straggling, 
the force of duty men left behind was quite small. When 
Duganne went to Bayou Boeuff, this force was so reduced 
that there were in Brashear, on the morning of the twenty- 
second, the convalescent soldiers, some colored troops, 
about one hundred men of the One Hundred and Seventy- 
Sixth New York Infantry and Twenty-First Indiana Artillery 
Regiments at Fort Buchanan, forty-five men of the Forty- 
Second Massachusetts at the depot, and various small 
squads of guards over property. The fort mounted ten 
heavy siege-guns, for use on the water face only, command- 
ing the rivers Teche and Atchafalaya, from a point above 
the fort where they make a junction. These guns were 
of no use whatever to repel a land attack, as they could 
not be swung around. No attempt was ever made to 
throw up breastworks to cover the open rear. The only 
guard against a rear attack was to station pickets in the 
wooded swamp. 

During the twenty-second, the Forty-Second men sub- 
sisted as best they could, appropriating provisions found 
in the depot and vicinity. No orders from any officer 
were received by Sergeant Ballou, who was in a quandary 
as to what he should do. The post-commandant had two 
platform cars arranged with a barricade of railroad sleepers, 
with two 12 Pr. howitzers mounted upon them. These cars 
were sent out late in the morning, under command of 

* Duganne, on his arrival at the Boeuff, received information from Lieutenant 
Robens, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, who was deputy provost- 
marshal at Tigerville, that a Union fugitive from Alexandria had, on the preceding 
Thursday, informed him that General Taylor, with fifteen thousand men (how figures 
do swell as they travel), was moving down the Teche River for a movement upon 
New Orleans. 



266 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Lieutenant Stevenson, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth 
New York, with a small force of infantry acting as sharp- 
shooters, to reconnoitre upon the railroad. This train 
returned in about two hours, after proceeding to Terre- 
bonne, three miles from La-Fourche, where the enemy 
was found tearing up rails, and a few shots exchanged 
with a battery commanding the track. 

About nine o'clock that night. Lieutenant Robens, One 
Hundred and Seventy -Sixth New York, was sent by 
Duganne from Bayou Boeuff to report to Major Anthony 
that a scout had brought in the intelligence of boats seen 
crossing Lake Pelourde; a movement which threatened 
both Brashear and the Boeuff, in the rear, but no steps 
were taken to meet it.^ 

Near sunrise on the morning of the twenty-third the 
four-gun Confederate (Valverde) battery opened fire from 
Berwick upon the depot building, situated upon the river 
front with a wharf attached. A few solid shot crashed 
through that structure, and some shells reached the wharf 
and convalescent camp. The men under Sergeant Ballou 
turned out promptly, attempting to silence the battery by 
opening fire from the railroad wharf, but their Springfield 
smooth-bore guns would not carry bullets across. The 
gunboat fired a few rounds and then proceeded down the 
river without further effort to silence the battery. Some 
Confederate riflemen, in support of the battery, joined in 
the fun, blazing away lively, sending some shots well 
across the water (about eight hundred yards), without 
inflicting any serious loss. Of the Forty-Second, Sergeant 
Turner, Company B, had a bullet go through his blouse 
sleeve at the elbow. An old iron 6 Pr. gun, which was 

*The Confederates, under Major Hunter, started at six p.m. on the twenty-second, 
in forty-eight skiffs and fiats, from the mouth of the Teche, up the Atchafalaya into 
Grand Lake, where oars were muffled, and then a pull of about eight hours landed 
them in rear of Brashear City. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 267 

mounted upon the wharf, trained upon the Berwick side, 
was put into use without effect. 

About an hour after this amusement commenced a 
few men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New 
York, under Lieutenant Stevenson, commander of the 
provost-guard, hauled a 24 Pr. gun, from the river front 
below, to the depot, and placed it into position, opening a 
fire with shells, which soon caused the Confederate battery 
to limber up and get out of the way. At this period there 
was a mixed assemblage around the depot, composed, in 
part, of infantry men belonging to the Forty-Second, yet 
Sergeant Ballou received no orders or instructions. He 
was ignorant of how matters stood, or the positions of 
what few troops remained at the post, and as to any knowl- 
edge if the post-commandant was in existence an unborn 
child was as learned. 

Not long after this, about six o'clock, Privates Lovell 
and Redmond, Company A, who were on their regular 
tour of duty watching the surrounding country from the 
cupola of the depot building, saw the Confederates dash 
out from the woods between Fort Buchanan and the con- 
valescent camp. Fort Buchanan was about two miles from 
the depot, while the camp was about one-quarter of a mile 
away. Giving the alarm, they joined their comrades below. 
In not over thirty minutes the enemy was seen coming 
from the direction of the fort, while some of the convales- 
cent soldiers ran down from their camp at the same 
moment, shouting : '^the rebs are coming ! " 

Major Sherod Hunter (of Baylor's Texas Cavalry), with 
a small force of three hundred and twenty-five Texans 
(picked men), had got in from the swamps, situated in 
rear of the tented camps that were between the depot and 
fort, meeting with a slight resistance. Hunter got through 
about four o'clock a.m., when, on arrival in view of an 



268 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

imposing display made by the tents of the convalescent, 
camps and those occupied by the One Hundred and 
Seventy-Sixth New York and Twenty-Third Connecticut, 
left standing when the men went to La-Fourche and the 
Boeuff, with all of their baggage in them, including knap- 
sacks, blankets and extra clothing, his men fancied a large 
army was before them, and tied back to the swamps from 
whence they came, but Hunter succeeded in rallying themi 
in season to make the attack as stated.* 

When the alarm by the lookout was given. Sergeant 
Ballou did not know what to do. Neither himself or the 
detachment had been under fire at close quarters. He 
thought of the train upon the track, loaded and ready, to 
be moved to Algiers if an opportunity offered, but could 
not find any matches ha-ndy with which to fire it. Then 
he thought of deploying the men as skirmishers, hold the 
enemy in check, retreat gradually, and try to escape 
capture. Not knowing the country, he finally concluded 
to get his men into line upon the railroad track and do 
the best he could with them. 

What defence was made by other troops seems to have 
been in the use of artillery by small detachments, and 
scattered squads of infantry. All of these isolated attempts 
to fight showed good pluck and courage, a sure sign that 
if handled properly in a body it would not have been a 
holiday affair for the enemy. Captain Cutter, One Hun- 
dred and Seventy-Sixth New York, on the sick list and in 
hospital, was killed while rallying men among the tents. 
The isolated squads of brave fellows were soon put to 
flight. Major Anthony had been down to the depot 
when the battery opened fire from Berwick, also Captain 

* Major Hunter does not mention this fact in his official report. His men did say- 
so, however, and it is the enlisted men who state facts seldom found in official reports. 
All of the Confederate documents relating to Brashear City, Bayou Boeuff and 
La-Fourche are an eulogy of their own prowess. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 269 

Noblett, artillery commander at Fort Buchanan, but both 
started for the fort when the dash was made from the 
woods. Major Anthony got there ; Captain Noblett had 
his horse shot, was dismounted, and sought refuge in the 
hospital. Beyond an endeavor, crowned with success, to 
get a gun from the fort into position to use upon the land 
side, and firing a few shots, no defence was made by 
troops in the fort. Lieutenant Stevenson and his men in 
charge of the 24 Pr. gun attempted to use it against the 
enemy, but were shot down and captured. 

The Forty-Second detachment, with a number of other 
soldiers on duty, also some convalescent men, took posi- 
tion in a small ditch alongside the railroad track, behind 
box cars, while what colored troops were on the right 
occupied the barricaded platform cars, and a few men 
were left in the depot building to defend the door. 

The enemy skirmished up to within ten paces of the 
train ; a skirmish fire continued for about half an hour. 
On the Confederate side, their firing was wild for a time, 
most of their shots going over the cars. From the 
Federals the firing was also rather wild, but they man- 
aged to do some execution, about forty of the enemy being 
killed and wounded.* At the end of a half hour the 
•colored troops suddenly stampeded to the woods, the 
enemy got into the depot and around the head of the 
train, opening a fire upon the flanks and rear. A few men 
had fallen previous to this time, and now, under this 
cross-fire, they commenced to drop quick, most of the 
•casualties among convalescent men. 

In the absence of any orders, with no sign or hope of 

♦Hunter says he lost three killed, eighteen wounded. His orders were to concen- 
trate at the railroad buildings. He says the forts made but a feeble resistance, and 
each column pressed on the point of concentration. At the depot the fighting was 
severe, but of short duration. He claims the Federals lost forty-six killed, forty 
•wounded. 



270 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

assistance, Sergeant Ballou sang out : " Boys, take care of 
yourselves ! " when the men broke, some for the woods 
and swamp, a short distance away, a few to fall back, 
under Sergeant Turner, maintaining a fire from behind 
trees and buildings until they reached a saw-mill on the 
river, where a number of unarmed sick and convalescent 
men had taken refuge to be out of danger. Here an 
officer of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York 
with some men of that regiment were found, and a fusil- 
lade with the enemy was kept up for some time. Two 
convalescent men were wounded by this scattered fire, 
when the officer, who did not stand up to his duty (pre- 
ferring to lie down), raised a white handkerchief upon his 
sword-point and surrendered the party about nine o'clock. 

Privates Redmond, Company A, and Albee, Company 
B, in company with a few One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth 
New York soldiers, fell back to a breastwork to make a 
further stand. As there was no possibility of making a 
successful defence, and no way of escape except by swim- 
ming the river, it was decided to surrender, in turn. A 
handkerchief was raised by Albee, attached to his musket, 
from which the lock had been shot off without his know- 
ing it, and a surrender was made of this knot of men. 

Private Lovell, Company A, and six men of the One 
Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York escaped in the 
only boat to be found at this point, landing at Fort Chene, 
thence going aboard the gunboat. Lovell jumped into the 
boat just as it was pulled off and nearly capsized the 
party. Little Franklin Borden, fourteen years old, fifer 
for Company B, who was on duty with the detachment, 
managed to get a small skiff and also escaped to the] 
gunboat. He was fired upon by Texans, shot striking the] 
water all around him, their only effect to cause the little 
fellow to hurry up and get out of range as soon as possible] 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 27 1 

and to yell like an Indian. The eight men who escaped 
were put on board a steam-transport from New Orleans 
that was met in the river, bound for Brashear to assist 
in removing material of war, and were brought to New- 
Orleans. 

Before he ordered his men to take care of tjiemselves, 
Sergeant Ballou was severely wounded by a rifle-ball in 
the left arm, near the wrist, and Private Cook received 
his fatal wound. Ballou asked Private George Kingsbury, 
Company B, to assist him in binding up his arm, and 
while doing so about twenty Texan s made a rush upon 
them, with a demand for their surrender. A Confederate 
lieutenant gave orders to shoot them down, because there 
was a flag of truce displayed while the firing continued. 
An appeal to Major Hunter was necessary to prevent 
this barbarity, the sergeant not being aware of any flag 
of truce having been raised, and informed the major that 
he did not raise one. This was settled satisfactorUy, and 
the few men left with Ballou were taken prisoners. 

Corporal Fales, Company B, had noticed the flag of 
truce when it was raised near the railroad wharf, by whom 
nobody knew, either at that time or after. If it was not a 
trick of the enemy, famous at such games in small actions, 
then it must have been done by some of the other men 
on duty, or from convalescents who wished to surrender. 
In either case it had no reference to or binding force upon 
the men who had the courage to make a fight. Each knot 
of men act for themselves in an action of this charac- 
ter. Fales spoke to Private Young, Company B, saying : 
" It is foolish to stand where we are and be shot down 
or to surrender with the flag of truce," and both fell 
back behind a house near by, from there ran into the 
woods and swamp, and were joined by Privates Nathaniel 
Ide, David Robinson, George S. Rice, a private of the 



I 



272 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Twenty-First Indiana, and a sergeant of the Twenty -Third 
Connecticut. They endeavored to travel southward in 
the swamp, with an idea of reaching Shell Island, expect- 
ing to be able to escape from there towards Algiers. 
Their food gave out, and finally, after trying to live upon 
uncooked green corn with salt pork, not daring to make a 
fire, they surrendered to Colonel Baylor at Bayou Boeuff, 
on Sunday, the twenty-eighth, after five days' life in the 
swamp. About eleven 'men escaped by the railroad track 
to Bayou Boeuff, and reported for duty to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Duganne, commanding post. 

The casualties to the detachment were : 

Private Lawson Comey, Company H, twenty-five years 
old, shot in the head and killed before the detachment 
scattered. 

Private William E. Cook, Company B, twenty years old 
wounded in abdomen, dying the same day. 

First- Serge ant George W. Ballou, Company B, severely 
wounded in left arm just before the detachment scattered 

Private George E. Clark, Company B, severely wounded 
in calf of left leg. 

Several men had narrow escapes from wounds or death, 
for bullets grazed clothing, muskets, and accoutrements 

At Bayou Boeuff, on the morning of the twenty-fourth, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne found he had only seventy 
two infantry and forty artillery men for duty, instead ol 
two hundred and fifty men with him the day before. Thii 
does not speak well for the officers on duty, that over one 
hundred men should have disappeared during the night. 
Everything was entangled. When an engineer ran two 
locomotives into the Boeuff the morning before, bringin 
news of the capture of Brashear City, and men who had 
escaped capture came straggling in and corroborated th 
engineer's story, the post-commander made some prepara- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 273 

tory measures for a proper defence. He had three siege- 
guns and one brass howitzer. Slight earthworks were 
thrown up. Captain Hopkins burned the bridge at Bayou 
Ramos early on the evening of the twenty-third, and 
joined Duganne with his men. The situation of the post 
was bad, with an enemy in front and rear. An officer of 
experience and courage who, when his determination was 
fixed to defend the post, had decision of character suffi- 
cient to make the attempt, could possibly so arrange his 
plans of defence as to enable him to have kept the enemy 
at bay for a few days at least. The men were reliable, if 
under an officer in whom they had confidence. The food 
supply was one day's rations to each man, but this could 
have been eked out to last two or three days, if any skill 
had been applied. The ammunition was plenty for a 
proper defence. Many times in the history of wars have 
small bodies of soldiers been placed in worse positions, 
yet, by a heroic defence, saved themselves and prevented 
the intentions of an enemy from being carried out. There 
was no defence of Bayou Bceuff. The fact that relief was 
likely to come from New Orleans was ignored. On the 
very day Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne surrendered, a force 
of five companies Ninth Connecticut Infantry, under Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Fitzgibbons, advanced to Chucahoula in 
the afternoon, within nine miles of the Boeuff, before a 
Confederate force was met. Had Duganne kept them at 
bay for one da}^ letting his guns tell the story, their 
reverberation along the narrow, densely-wooded railroad 
line would have brought down upon them the whole 
Federal force then at La-Fourche. 

Early on the morning of the tw^enty-fourth a council of 
officers was held and decided to surrender. A sugar- 
house with outlying sheds, filled with army supplies, offi- 
cers' baggage, arms, and military appurtenances of all 



2 74 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

kinds, stored by some of the brigades of tlie army, was 
burned during the evening of the twenty-third. The two 
locomotives were rendered unfit for immediate use, but 
not destroyed. What negroes had been armed to assist 
in the defence were disarmed, that the enemy might have 
no reason to maltreat them. Some of these negroes were 
excellent shots, anxious and ready to fight. 

Shortly after dawn the Confederates appeared from 
Brashear and opened a parley. While debating whether 
to accept the terms of unconditional surrender demanded. 
Colonel Major and his men appeared on the other side ; a 
parley was opened. Colonel Major crossing the railroad 
bridge with a flag of truce, and while discussing the prelimi- 
naries of surrender, before the truce was withdrawn. Major's 
men got into the post without a gun being fired, and the 
Federal troops were prisoners before they knew it. The 
enemy appropriated everything, as usual, and the prisoners 
were marched to Brashear the same day, joining their 
comrades at Fort Buchanan the same night. To use an 
•expression frequently made by the enlisted men, it was a 
"" sell out," and they expected it from the method adopted 
to organize and prepare for defence. 

About two hundred and fifty enlisted men were taken 
prisoners at Bayou Boeuff, and the following officers : 

Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Duganne, 176th New York. 
Lieutenant Charles Kerby, " 

John F. Kimball, 
Captain Julius Sanford, 23d Connecticut. 
A. D. Hopkins, 
Alfred Wells, 
Lieutenant John F. Peck, " 

" Charles D. Hurlbutt, 23d Connecticut. 

" John A. Woodward, " 

" Frank Sherfy^ 21st Indiana. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 275 

The following officers were made prisoners at Brashear 
City: 

Major R. C. Anthony, 2d Rhode Island Cavalry. 
Lieutenant Caleb Brennan, " 

Colonel Charles C. Nott, 176th New York. 
Captain William P. Coe, " 

" S. E. Thomason, " 

Lieutenant John Babcock, " 

" David G. Wellington, 176th New York. 

J. D. Fry, 
J. P. Robens, 
" Daniel G. Gillette, " 

" T. Foster Petrie, 

" Louis W. Stevenson, " 

" Charles Sherman, " 

Captain F. W. Noblett, 21st Indiana. 

" Albert Allen, ist U. S. Vols., "Corps d'Afrique." 
Lieutenant Charles E. Page, 4th U. S. Vols., " 
Captain S. G. Bailey, 23d Connecticut. 
" George S. Crofut, 23d Connecticut. 
" James R. Jenkins, " 

Lieutenant O. H. Hibbard, " 

" John G. Stevens, '* 

" Charles Bailey, '* 

" John W. Buckingham, 23d Connecticut. 

" James DeLamater, 91st New York. 

" Charles Avery, 25th Connecticut. 

" George W. Hugg, " 

" Henry W. Morse, 4th Massachusetts. 

" James M. Sampson, " 

" Henry Humble, ** 

Surgeon James Waldock, " 

" David Hershy, 4th U. S. Volunteers. 

A. J. Willets, 176th New York. 

Assistant-Surgeon Throop, 176th New York. 

After a full list of the prisoners was made up for parole, 
there was found to be between twelve and thirteen hun- 
dred, including officers, enlisted men on duty, sick and 



276 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

convalescent men, some few citizens, and about one hun- 
dred railroad laborers. 

The following men of the Forty-Second Regiment 
detachment were paroled : 

Company A. 

1. Corporal John F. Gushing. 3. Private James G. Raymond. 

2. Private Charles S. Redmond. 4. " George W. Tirrell. 

5. Private Charles S. Williams. 

Company E. 

6. Corporal Francis N. Luce. 9. Private David F. Cummings. 

7. Private Robert Whiteside. 10. " John H. Hildreth. 

8. " Francis T. Jones. ii. " Patrick Fitzpatrick. 

Compajty B. 

12. I st Serg't George W. Ballon. 23. Private Frank L. Fisher. 

13. 2d " Thaddeus M.Turner. 24. " George H. Fisher. 

14. 4th " Frederick D. Morse. 25. " Harrison E. Harwood, 

15. Corporal Henry J. Daniels. 26. " Nathaniel Ide. 

16. " Silas E. Fales. 27. " George A. Kingsbury. 

17. Private Daniel Akley. 28. " Charles M. Morris. 

18. " Erastus Adams. 29. " George S. Rice. 

19. " D. Newton Blake. 30. " Henry S. Richardson. 

20. " Albert E. Ballard. 31. " David Robinson. 

21. " George E. Clark. 32. " Orson D. Young. 

22. " Sewall J. Clark. 33. " Albert Albee. 

Company H. 

34. Private John Davis. 38. Private Lovett B. Hayden. 

35. " James Healey. 39. " Charles McLaughlin. 

36. '* William A. Ragan. 40. " John Barrett. 

37. " Calvin W. Woods. 41. " Henry A. Watkins. 
And Private Joseph P. Snow^, Company K, sick in hospital. 

After fighting at Brashear City was over the prisoners 
were collected at Fort Buchanan and wounded sent to the 
hospital, where appearances indicated that as many of the 
enemy were wounded as upon the Federal side. The] 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 277 

Confederate troops at once commenced to loot the town 
and camps, and get drunk. The rank and file were a 
good-natured, motley crowd, apparently without discipline 
or organization. After General Taylor arrived (twenty- 
fourth) with the balance of his command, the force was 
seen to be well mounted and armed, most of the men 
owning their horses and equipments. The general under- 
standing among them was that each man was entitled to 
keep what he captured. No attempt was made to maintain 
uniformity in dress or arms. Privates were seen wearing 
the uniform of a Federal officer, with sword, belt and 
sash, while officers were seen dressed in a red shirt and 
Striped trowsers. 

Sergeant Turner got Major Hunter to allow him, with a 
guard for protection, to look around the post and find the 
missing men of his detachment. Visiting the hospital 
first. Private Cook was found laid out upon the grass 
beside a dozen others, having died from his wound. Ser- 
geant Ballou was found back of the hospital, suffering 
great pain from his wound. His blanket had been stolen, 
and he was very thirsty and hungry. Turner obtained a 
blanket and did what he could for his comfort. At the 
depot, where he expected to find the knapsacks, the 
enemy's troops were in force, and had seized everything 
left there. In the village a few dead New York soldiers 
were to be seen and one soldier of the Fourth Massachu- 
setts, supposed to have been shot down where they lay. 
Private George Clark was found at a house, in comfortable 
condition, receiving good care from two pretty girls. They 
were told to keep him there, and kept their promise to do 
so, baffling all attempts made to take him to the hospital. 

On the way back to the fort a Confederate officer halted 
the party. During a conversation that ensued he noticed 
the figures forty-two on Turner's cap, and inquired if he 



278 

belonged to the Forty-Second Massachusetts. Turner 
answered, " Yes ; " the officer then said he was present at 
the capture of Galveston with the Forty-Second Regiment ; 
that the men were paroled, and he would have to look 
into his case. It was hard work to make the fool under- 
stand that only three companies of the regiment were 
made prisoners at Galveston, and not the entire regiment. 
Sergeant Ballou went to the hospital about ten o'clock 
in the forenoon to have his arm looked after, and was- 
informed that it was done up so well he could wait better 
than other wounded men, for an amputation. It was late 
in the afternoon and dark when the surgeon requested the 
sergeant to get upon the table and have his arm taken off. 
A request to save the arm, if possible, caused the surgeon 
to make another examination, but he gave an opinion that 
it was impossible to save it. Ballou, however, insisted 
upon making the attempt, and the surgeon proceeded to 
its attention. He found about two and one-half inches of 
the large bone in the wrist was shot away and the small bone 
broken. With the cavity made by the wound stuffed with 
lint and bound up, the suffering that night from pain 
endured by Ballou was terrible. He fortunately found 
Surgeon Willets, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New 
York, the next morning, who carefully removed the lint 
bandage, examined the wound, set the broken small bone,, 
put on a board support, and attended to it assiduously. 
Sergeant Ballou saved his arm and hand, but the hand 
has never been of use to him. In refusing to submit to 
the loss of his arm it is probable that he also saved his 
life, for with one exception every man died who suffered 
amputation. Hot weather and no ice to be had, gangrene 
would set in and the patients die. With the exception of 
a short allowance of food, the wounded were well treated 
while in the enemy's hands. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 279 

On Saturday, June 27th, the enlisted men having been 
paroled, searched, and deprfved of everything except what 
they wore, a haversack and woollen blanket, started at five 
o'clock in the afternoon to march for the Union lines. A 
curious feature in regard to prisoners taken at Brashear 
is that no negro soldiers were among them. As no one 
saw or heard of any cut-throat actions towards colored 
Federal soldiers, the supposition would seem to be well 
founded that they all escaped capture in some way through 
the wooded swamps. Sergeant Turner, on receiving his 
parole, was complimented by an officer who represented 
the United States forces, and thanked for what defence 
the detachment made. The tenor of his remarks were, 
that if there had been a few more men like those com- 
posing the Forty-Second detachment the shameful surprise, 
with attendant consequences, would not have occurred. 

The following men were left at Brashear, not able to 
march : 

First-Sergeant George W. Ballou, Company B, wounded. 

Private George E. Clark, Company B, wounded. 

Private George H. Fisher, Company B, sick. 

Private Patrick Fitzpatrick, Company E, sick. 

Many convalescent and sick soldiers not able to march, 
but anxious to reach the Federal lines, attempted to do so 
with their fellow prisoners. They gave out day by day 
from sickness and fatigue, caused by debility, hot weather, 
poor drinking-water, and insufficient rations, to be left on 
the line of march all the way from Brashear to New 
Orleans. Quite a number died. Many were in a condi- 
tion to give out any moment, but pluckily kept on and 
reached the lines. From the Forty-Second detachment 
Privates Henry Richardson and George Kingsbur}', Com- 
pany B, sickened, and had to be left at Thibodeaux. 

At first the Confederate guard was a company of Lou- 



28o HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

isiana infantry, soon relieved by a cavalry company of 
Colonel Baylor's Rangers, because the infantry could not 
keep up with the impatient prisoners. The guard was kind 
in treatment of their charge, while under strict orders to 
shoot down any man attempting to straggle or forage 
without permission. As to rations, they fared no better 
than their prisoners, making an equal division of what 
they had so long as it lasted. 

The route of march was upon the railroad road-bed 
which ran through a swampy, thickly-wooded country a 
greater part of the way. The atmosphere was stifling. 
The first night was passed at Bayou Ramos, about six 
miles out from Brashear ; the second night upon a planta- 
tion beyond Bayou Boeuff, where Corporal Fales and five 
men came in and surrendered. Starting at four o'clock 
on the morning of the twenty-ninth, after a march of 
eighteen miles, the prisoners reached Terrebonne, remain- . 
ing over night. On the thirtieth they continued on to Thi- 
bodeaux and beyond, to remain over night near the 
La-Fourche railroad bridge. July ist, after an early start 
in the morning, while en-route^ the men found the hospital 
in which was Private Woodman, Company B, wounded in 
the action of June 21st. A halt for the night was made 
at Race] and, midway between Brashear and Algiers. Very 
little progress was made the next day as rations had 
given out, causing a delay until provisions expected from 
Brashear should be forwarded ; meanwhile the men had 
to get along with what they could forage. July 3d the 
Federal pickets were found just before reaching Boutte 
Station — where the advanced troops were stationed 
charged with the Defences of New Orleans — and the 
prisoners delivered over to Federal officers. 

The Confederate guard attempted to play a sharp trick 
that night. After turning over their prisoners, with a 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 251 

Texan yell they departed, but not to go far, for they hung 
around until night, when they made a raid upon the picket- 
posts. Their design had been suspected and the posts 
were on the alert, prepared for them; the consequence 
Avas that instead of capturing the posts many of them 
were made prisoners instead, and sent to New Orleans, 
I where they arrived before the paroled men whom they had 
under guard from Brashear to Boutte. 

The duty performed by this Forty-Second detachment, 
•^vith all the necessary exposure attending it, told upon the 
men. On their return, July 4th, to Algiers, where they 
■were quartered in the Iron Works building (a very 
-dirty place), receiving poor treatment, most of them were 
■suffering from diarrhoea, dysentery, or chills and fever, 
rsome men having a combination of these complaints. 
Efforts were at once made to have the Forty-Second Regi- 
ment men sent to the paroled camp at Bayou Gentilly, 
which was not accomplished until July 8th. 

Sergeant Ballou, with Privates Clark and Fisher, re- 
mained at Brashear City five days after the Confederate 
troops departed, on July 2 2d, when two Federal gunboats 
arrived. These men proceeded to New Orleans by water, 
going into the University Hospital, and then reported to 
the regiment at Algiers July 28th. 

With one dollar and forty cents in his pocket when 
anade prisoner, the sergeant was fortunately enabled to 
borrow twenty dollars from a soldier of a Connecticut 
Tegiment. With this money he was able to subsist until 
•carried to New Orleans, securing board with a German 
woman, who furnished him with one meal a day for twenty- 
iive cents. Several of the Texan troops took meals at her 
house, for which she made them pay one dollar a meal. 
She claimed to be a good, true Unionist, and was not at 
all backward in saying so. Unlike many of the so-called 



282 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Southern Unionists with whom the army often came in 
contact, this woman was as outspoken before Confederates 
as she was before Federals. She made no attempt to 
disguise her sentiments. 

At Brashear Sergeant Ballou had excellent opportuni- 
ties to see what was going on. Taylor and his men came 
down the river to Brashear in five steamboats, except the- 
artillery, which marched overland. They had several bat- 
teries ; one called the Valverde Battery they considered 
the best equipped in the Confederate service. They were 
five days removing contents of railroad cars and other 
material found at Brashear, carrying the same across the 
river to Berwick, thence to their various depots. The cars, 
when emptied, were ran about half a mile out upon the 
track and set on fire. After the fire was well under way 
the locomotive La-Fout'che^ under a full head of steam,, 
was started from the depot and ran into the burning train,, 
jumping some ten feet in the air when it struck. 

The spoils obtained by the enemy consisted of heavy 
cannon and field-guns (about fifteen), small arms, ammuni- 
tion, tents, baggage, commissary and quartermaster stores, 
with large medical supplies of great value to them. The 
colors of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York 
Regiment were also lost. 

The gift of Brashear City to the enemy, with this valua- 
ble property, was without an excuse. There is but one 
explanation of the failure to properly defend the post r 
incompetency and cowardice of the senior officers. A deter- 
mined stand by half the number of the raiding force 
under Major Hunter would have easily driven them back. 
Had the naval vessel remained in the river to co-operate 
whenever an opportunity offered Hunter would not have 
had easy work in forcing his men to make the attack ;. 
many of them declared that if the gunboat had not moved 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 283-. 

down the river they would not have attempted to get in^ 
This may or may not have proved to be the case. The 
Texans under Colonel Green, when they attacked Donald- 
sonville upon the twenty-eighth, were not deterred from it 
even with three gunboats pre^sent, but a defeat was given 
them Inhere, with severe loss to them. 

A repulse of the attack made by Hunter's raiding party 
would have given time to decide upon a course of action 
to be adopted before General Taylor made his appear- 
ance. Had it been decided to evacuate, then the train with 
its valuable load and other property in Brashear could 
have been destroyed, the garrison, with all sick men able 
to be moved, could have been taken by water to New 
Orleans, for ample facilities were at Brashear. On Mon- 
day the HoIlyJiock had brought around from Bayou Boeuff 
a number of flatboats, which were added to those already 
at Brashear, then there was the gunboat, the small ferry 
steamers used to ply across from Brashear to Berwick,. 
with the transport-steamer that was coming up river on 
the morning of surrender. The flatboats were put in use 
by the enemy to remove captured property. 

The entire force of duty men were nine months' troops. 
They were what are termed raw troojos, with unseasoned 
officers- The freshness of troops does not matter so 
much if they can be officered by men of experience. 
What fresh troops need most, in action, is to be informed 
of the situation of affairs, the location of other troops, 
and general instructions as to what they have got to do, 
or what is expected of them. Old troops soon acquire 
the art of finding out all this without being told, under- 
standing that the least danger lies in holding together, 
face to the enemy, and that a stampede is running head- 
long into danger. 

In consequence of the loss of medical stores in Brashear^. 



1284 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the medical purveyor's stock became too small for army 
necessities, with men rapidly swelling the sick lists and the 
liot weather in season. To replenish supplies, the trans- 
port-steamer New Brnnstaick, a light-draft side-wheeler, 
nine hundred and thirty tons burthen, manned by a fine 
•crew, was loaded with coal and despatched to New York in 
July or August. Her captain had orders to drive her with 
all possible speed and spare nothing in order to make 
a quick passage North, and return. Fortunately good 
weather prevailed, with the exception of a stiff blow off 
Hatteras and a short gale on the return trip. This trans- 
port made what was then called " the famous passage." 
The exact time is now lost, but it was between six and 
seven days. Everything on board that could be utilized 
was used for fuel ; her chief-engineer, Wesley Allen, to 
whom the credit is due for her quick, passages, although he 
had as assistants two efficient men, stood by his engines 
-almost the entire time, pushing the wheels to twenty-two 
revolutions a minute, and so maintained them. They 
ordinarily made from seventeen to nineteen. Allen is 
said to have slept not more than twenty hours on each 
passage. He fully understood that many lives could 
te saved by each day gained, and was a man, every 
inch of him. 

The Neiu Brunswick arrived at New York early one 
morning, was loaded with medical and hospital stores the 
same day, and at night was on her way back to New 
■Orleans, passing a mail steamer at Sandy Hook, bound 
in, that she parted company with and left at the Passes of 
the Mississippi River. Coal and stores were rushed on 
iDoard with a run. Coal was dumped upon the open deck 
forward, instead of wasting time to fill up her hold. Fires 
were not drawn from the boilers, and they only had the 
'water blown out while fresh water ran in. No time was 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 285 

lost in fancy oiling of machinery, for it was slapped on 
without regard to appearances, in order that no part should 
become heated. Among the firemen life below deck was 
a hard lot, as her blowers were never turned off from the 
boiler fires. 

The round trip was made in a little less than two weeks, 
ruining her boilers in so doing. 



286 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER XII. 

Action at La-Fourche Crossing. 

ABOUT six o'clock Saturday morning, twentieth June, 
1863, the train which left Brashear City for La- 
Tourche a few hours before, arrived at the railroad bridge 
crossing Bayou La-Fourche, twenty-eight miles from Bra- 
shear, fifty-two miles from Algiers, then a suburb of New 
Orleans, upon the west bank of the Mississippi River. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney had under his command on 
the train : one hundred and fifteen men One Hundred 
and Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry, Major Morgans in 
command; seventy-five men Twenty-Third Connecticut 
Infantry, Major Miller in command ; forty-six men Forty- 
Second Massachusetts Infantry, Lieutenant Tinkham in 
command ; and two pieces of artillery, a 6 Pr. gun and a 
12 Pr. howitzer. This force was in light marching order, 
having left at Brashear City all knapsacks, extra clothing, 
and many of them their blankets. 

There was posted at Terrebonne and La-Fourche, guard- 
ing the railroad bridge, a force of about two hundred and 
fifty men with one 12 Pr. gun -and one 12 Pr. howitzer. 
This force, joined with the reenforcements from Brashear, 
made Stickney's command about five hundred and two 
men, as follows : — companies, one hundred and ninety- 
five men, Twenty-Third Connecticut Infantry; — com- 
panies, one hundred and fifty-four men, One Hundred and 
Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry ; one company, forty-six 
men, Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry ; one company, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 287 

thirty-seven men, Twenty-Sixth Maine Infantry, under Cap- 
tain Fletcher; one company, fifty men, First Louisiana 
Cavalry, under Captain Blober ; and about twenty artillery- 
men, mostly from the Twenty-First Indiana Artillery. 

Upon disembarking from the train, the commanding 
officer of the post appeared to be much surprised at this 
appearance of additional troops, and asked what was to 
be done. When informed that the post was threatened 
by the enemy he laughed heartily, and told Stickney no 
enemy had been seen around there for six months. 

Captain Blober, on his return from a scout made the 
day before, ordered by Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney by 
telegraph from Brashear, reported no signs whatever of 
any force on the Bayou La-Fourche. Blober, ordered to 
be sure and scout as far as Napoleonville, and beyond if 
possible, only proceeded a mile or two beyond Labadie- 
ville, about twelve miles from La-Fourche and nine miles 
from Thibodeaux. He reported that people from Napo- 
leonville said no force was in that direction ; the reason, 
probably, why he did not carry out his orders. This com- 
pany of the First Louisiana Cavalry was composed of raw 
recruits, without much drill or discipline. In his official 
report of the action Stickney says : " Had their scouting 
been properly done, there was no necessity whatever of 
the infantry force at Thibodeaux being captured." 

Colonel Major* with three regiments of Confederate 

* Colonel James P. Major commanded the Second Cavalry Brigade, composed of 
mounted infantry, artillery and cavalry. His official report, dated June 30th, 1863, 
does not give the strength of his command, but enough is gleaned from it to know 
that he had regiments commanded by Colonels W. P. Lane, B. W. Stone, and Joseph 
Phillip, Colonel C. L. Pyron's Second Texas Cavalry, and Captain O. J. Semmes' 
battery. 

Major captured Plaquemine June iSth, was at Bayou Goula at daylight on 
the nineteenth, at dark sent a force under Colonel Lane through a swamp direct to 
Thibodeaux, and at midnight followed with the rest of his men, arriving at 3.30 a.m. 
on the twenty-first. The rest of his report on this action does not agree with 



288 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Texan mounted men was at that very moment on his way- 
down from Plaquemine — forty miles from Thibodeaux — 
and could not have been many miles away. On the nine- 
teenth June General "Dick" Taylor was at the Fausse 
Riviere, an ancient bed of the Mississippi, some miles west 
of the present channel and opposite Port Hudson, in com- 
pany with Colonel Major and his men. He had heard from 
some ladies of his acquaintance there, recently from New 
Orleans, that the Federal force in that city was not over 
one thousand men, and with the exception of a small 
garrison in the fort at Donaldsonville there were no troops 
on the west bank of the river. This was not true. There 
was scattered in the Parish towns on the west bank a 
respectable force of detached Federal troops on guard 
and provost duty. Taylor ordered Major to proceed at 
once, for the express purpose of reaching the rear of 
Brashear City by the twenty-third, and to pass Plaquemine 
at night to escape observation. Major could not do this. 
His men, hungry for spoils, raided into that town, captur- 
ing some prisoners and burning two steamers. Lieu- 
tenant White, of the Forty-Second Massachusetts, with his 
unarmed colored engineer troops barely escaped capture 
at the time. 

The men lay around carelessly until afternoon, as it was 
extremely hot and nothing could be had to eat. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Stickney, when he left Brashear, did not 
apprehend any attack on that place for some days, and 
intended to return as soon as possible. Not hearing from 
Captain Blober, who had again been ordered to scout and 
cover the roads about Thibodeaux, about four o'clock he 
got ready to go back to Brashear upon the same train that 
brought him. An order was given Lieutenant Tinkham to 
remain at La-Fourche with his detachment, as a reenforce- 
ment to the post; Stickney remarked he did not d 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 289 

leave without doing so. Orders had also been received 
from New Orleans to return two companies infantry to 
Brashear. 

As the men were about to board the cars up rode a 
cavalry-man in hot haste, with bare breath enough to say, 
"the rebs are coming, three divisions of them," and told 
that they were already at Thibodeaux. Blober's cavalry 
detachment came in shortly after, with a loss of two men 
in a close pursuit by the enemy. With no wish to weaken 
his force just then, but desirous to increase it, the train 
was hastily despatched to Terrebonne, three miles distant 
on the railroad, with orders for Captain Barber, Company 
El, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, posted 
with about sixty men and one piece of artillery in a 
stockade, to evacuate. The gun and detachment of gun- 
ners left for La-Fourche during the morning. 

Throughout the morning crowds of colored people kept 
coming along the road, from the direction of Thibodeaux, 
with reports that the enemy were coming. Failing to 
obtain satisfactory news from these people Captain Barber 
rode to that town to find out the facts, arriving just as the 
cavalry scouts started for La-Fourche, and with them the 
captain went. This left young Lieutenant Phoebus W. 
Lyon, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, in 
command, without proper information of what to expect. 
When the Confederate troopers appeared they did not dare 
to attack the stockade, as they expected that the field- 
gun was there. They showed the convenient flag of truce. 
To the sergeant who was sent out to meet it a demand 
was made to see the commanding officer. Lieutenant 
Lyon, alone, went to meet them some three hundred yards 
from the stockade, and refused their demand for a surren- 
der of the post, when the Confederate commander pulled 
:Out a revolver, placed it behind an ear of the lieutenant 



290 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

and demanded that he should go along with him. To the 
charge of violating a flag of truce by such a demand no 
attention was paid, and entirely at their mercy Lieutenant 
Lyon had to go with them, a prisoner of war. The enemy 
made a feint to charge upon the stockade, and then with- 
drew some distance. Without molestation the Federal 
troops embarked upon the train, which arrived shortly 
after all this occurred, and Lieutenant Lyon had to witness 
the evacuation, from the woods where he was held, with 
chagrin. 

At Thibodeaux the Confederates captured all the infan- 
try stationed there, also about one hundred men upon 
plantations in the vicinity (forty-seven men of the Twelfth 
Maine, with Lieutenants Freeman H. Chase and John W. 
Dana, convalescents sent by Stickney from Brashear; 
forty others, also convalescents from Brashear ; about ten 
men Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New 
York; and a few plantation guards). At Terrebonne 
Captain William H. May, Twenty-Third Connecticut, was 
taken prisoner. 

When the cavalry-man had made his report all of the 
troops were ordered to "fall in," and a line of battle was 
formed. The position taken is described by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stickney in his official report as follows : " The 
levee of the Bayou La-Fourche is about twelve feet high ; 
the railroad crosses the bayou over the top of the levee, 
nearly in a direction perpendicular to that of the bayou, 
and is about twelve feet above the level of the surround- 
ing country. For five or six miles to the east of La- 
Fourche Crossing a carriage-road runs up and down the 
bayou on both sides close to the levee, passing under the 
railroad on both sides of the bayou. We were on the 
east side of the bayou and north of the railroad, our 
front being parallel with the railroad, extending about one 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 29 1 

hundred and fifty yards from the levee, and being about 
two hundred yards from the railroad. From the right of 
our front I had a line of defence running perpendicular 
to and resting upon the railroad. I was obliged to have 
my front farther from the railroad than it otherwise would 
have been, on account of trees standing, which could not 
be cut down. The country around was level, affording 
full play for the artillery, and was covered with tall grass, 
which I subsequently had cut down, as it concealed, in a 
measure, movements in our front. 

" A detachment of about fifty men of the Twenty-Third 
Connecticut, under command of Major Miller, was posted 
in the tall grass on both sides of the road along the levee, 
lying down, about four hundred and fifty yards in advance 
of the battle line. 

"The remainder of the infantry was drawn up in line, 
with the right flank in reverse, excepting the company of 
convalescent men, under Captain Fletcher, Twenty-Sixth 
Maine, who were posted at the railroad bridge. 

" Captain Blober and his cavalry-men were posted so 
as to guard against the turning of the right flank, with the 
detachment Forty-Second Massachusetts in their front, and 
to the rear of the centre of the battle line. 

"The artillery was posted as follows : a 12 Pr. gun upon 
the railroad bridge, near the left bank of the bayou ; two 
12 Pr. howitzers and one 6 Pr. gun on the battle line front, 
one of the howitzers being so placed upon the extreme 
right so that its fire could be directed to the front or 
right flank." 

These movements were the first indication of an action 
in which this detachment of the Forty-Second had seen 
an opportunity to participate. Not without reason Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Stickney rode up to Lieutenant Tinkham 
and asked him what he thought about the behavior of his 



292 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

men under fire ; the lieutenant answered, he did not know, 
but thought they would fight. Cavalry-Captain Blober, a 
plucky little German, was boiling over for a fight. He 
was just the man to put courage into any one a little weak 
in the knees. Later in the day this captain captured a 
Confederate bugler upon the road. 

With nothing to eat since the evening before, a hot, 
dusty and tedious ride in the cars early that morning, 
lounging around all day in a hot sun, no wonder there 
were many anxious inquiries, at all hours of the day, for 
some stimulant. Those who had it in their possession 
kept still, and the welcome friend was hard to find. How- 
ever, no sooner had position in line been taken to meet 
the expected enemy, when out came the secreted whiskey, 
and was passed around to those in need of it. 

About five o'clock the enemy came marching down the 
bayou road, mounted, in column of fours, and as soon as 
the head of the column was in sight a shot was fired from 
the gun upon the bridge, causing them to halt and retire. 
They soon advanced about one hundred skirmishers, who 
drove in the Federal pickets and moved on until encounter- 
ing the detachment Twenty-Third Connecticut, hid in tall 
grass, who, after an exchange of shots, fell back upon the 
right flank of the main line without loss. 

The artillery gave them a few solid shot and shell, when 
the enemy retired towards Thibodeaux with their killed 
and wounded. 

Even here, almost before a gun was fired, the malady 
which seemed to have attacked some officers on duty in 
this section was made manifest. Major Miller, Twenty- 
Third Connecticut, during the day had spoken to Major 
Morgans and Lieutenant Tinkham about a surrender to 
the enemy ; said he was in favor of it, and that it was of 
no use to make a fight. He got an unfavorable response 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 293 

from these officers, but the major continued panic-struck, 
for, after the first fire by the enemy upon the Twenty- 
Third Connecticut in the grass, as Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stickney says in his official report : " I found Major 
Miller, some distance to the rear of his command, crouch- 
ing in the high weeds on the levee. I ordered him under 
arrest, and put in command of this detachment the next 
senior officer, who faithfully executed my order." 

Soon after the enemy's disappearance, instead of 
promptly throwing out his skirmishers to follow up their 
retrograde movement and ascertain what they were doing, 
Stickney sent a flag of truce to obtain permission to 
remove his hospital stores and sick from the hospital, 
which was in front of his lines and exposed to his fire. 
The truce party went two and one-half miles on the road 
before meeting the Confederate pickets. True to their 
own cowardly use of flags of truce, they refused to comply 
with Stickney's request. This made no difference, how- 
ever, as they could not interfere where they were, and the 
hospital contents were removed to the Federal rear, and, 
just before dark, the building was burned, to prevent 
interference with the range of fire. A building upon the 
other side of the bayou was also set on fire, to enable 
movements of the enemy to be seen, as it was feared they 
might come down on that side and attempt to cross the 
railroad bridge. 

The position in line of battle was maintained all night, 
ready to repel at any moment an attack : the men rested 
upon the ground as best they could ; pickets w^ere thrown 
out about four hundred yards to the front ; squads of 
cavalry kept scouting to the right and rear ; everything 
upon this Johnson Plantation that could be used for fuel 
was torn down to keep fires going. 

About eleven o'clock at night a train arrived from Algiers 



294 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

with five companies, three hundred and six men, Twenty- 
Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sawtelle. Being the senior officer, Stickney tendered him 
the command, which Lieutenant-Colonel Sawtelle refused. 
The Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts went into line on the 
front. No demonstrations were made by the enemy during 
the night. 

The next morning, Sunday, June 21st, Captain Grow 
with one section of the Twenty-Fifth New York Battery 
and thirty men arrived from Algiers. One gun went into 
position on the extreme left of the line to cover the bayou 
road, and one gun was held in reserve, where it could be 
moved to the front or upon the right flank, as occasion 
should require. Slight earthworks were thrown up, at no 
point over two feet high, but they extended only a few 
yards in either direction from the angle formed on the 
right flank by the two fronts. 

During the morning Confederate mounted troops ap- 
peared in small bodies within .range of the outposts, to 
reconnoitre the position. About four o'clock in the after- 
noon nearly one hundred and fifty Confederates, mounted 
and dismounted, attacked the outposts and pickets, but 
made no attempt to advance in force. A desultory fire 
was maintained for one hour and a half, wdien the enemy 
retired. 

Shortly after noon a heavy rain commenced, and con- 
tinued until about half-past six o'clock, drenching the men 
to the skin, who maintained a battle line the greater part 
of the day as they had during the night. Stickney claims 
this was necessary, as he could not depend on the men 
falling into position with suflicient alacrity at the least 
warning. 

The Federal position at dusk was about the same as on 
the previous day, except that two companies of the Twenty- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 295 

Sixth Massachusetts were added to the front line, two 
companies on the right flank in reverse, and one company 
upon the railroad bridge in support of the gun placed there. 

Between five and six o'clock Lieutenant Tinkham was 
ordered to advance on the road to a point about one- 
quarter of a mile in front, with his Forty-Second Massa- 
chusetts detachment and some fifty negroes, to take down 
a rail fence that somewhat obstructed the view. While 
engaged in this work the enemy could be seen about 
another quarter of a mile up the road, somewhat covered 
by the woods. Captain Blober tried his best to draw 
them on, by riding towards them and circling around as 
the ground would permit, without effect. Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Stickney rode up and wanted a volley fired at them, 
but Lieutenant Tinkham informed him it would do no 
good, as his men were armed with Springfield smooth-bore 
guns that would not reach the distance. Finally a volley 
was fired, without effect, when Stickney told the lieutenant 
to hold on and he would send out a field-gun, which 
was done. 

It was shortly after this fence was levelled that the 
enemy, dismounted, with a yell, and opening fire at the 
same time, made a charge. The field-gun, after three dis- 
charges of canister shot, was abandoned by the Twenty-Fifth 
New York artillery-men, although Lieutenant Tinkham sug- 
gested to the gunner in command to fire in retreat. The 
gunner was either a coward or too frightened to listen to 
any orders or suggestions, and the gun was left. As the 
gunners retreated Lieutenant Tinkham, who had his men 
in line to the rear in support, upon one side of the road, 
wheeled the detachment into line across the bayou road 
and gave the enemy a volley from his smooth-bores, carry- 
ing a ball and three buckshot to each musket, almost point- 
blank in their faces. They were not over ten paces dis- 



296 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

tant. This volley staggered them for a few minutes, as well 
it might, for an uglier weapon to face at close quarters 
than those Springfield smooth-bore muskets, even in the 
hands of raw troops, could not be found in the entire 
army at that time. 

Promptly faced about, the detachment was double- 
quicked back to the battle line as fast as the mud and 
slippery condition of the road would allow, for the rain 
had caused the Louisiana soil of that region to assume 
the consistency of a sticky paste, so well known to all 
campaigners in the Gulf Department. With this uncer- 
tain footing, the close proximity of the enemy, fairly on 
their heels,* yelling and firing, and the balance of the 
Federal force in line of battle also opening fire, placing 
the detachment between two lines of fire, it is remarkable 
that the casualties were so few at this time. Not a man 
was taken prisoner. Major Morgans did not expect the 
detachment would be able to get back, but reserved the 
One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York fire as long as 
he dared, and then opened an oblique firing, to prevent 
any harm to the detachment, if possible. 

The Forty-Second detachment was not out as skir- 
mishers, and did not have that formation. It was on a 
special duty and had performed that duty. No orders 
were given the lieutenant except to support the field-gun. 
What had become of the pickets and outposts Lieutenant 
Tinkham did not know. The enemy were upon him almost 
without warning, for they had crept up in the tall grass 
on his front. In his official report Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stickney says : " The enemy advanced rapidly and soon 

*One of the curious events of the action, which also proves the close proximity of 
the enemy, was that a Confederate lieutenant-colonel, mounted upon an iron-grey 
horse,who must have distanced his men in the charge they made, got around and ahead, 
by the flank, and led the Forty-Second detachment on its retreat to the main line. This 
officer came in contact v^'ith men of the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, who made him 
a prisoner, as related later on in this chapter. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



297 



compelled the pickets to fall back on the main line, which 
they reached in rather a straggling condition at our left 
wing." This could not mean the detachment Forty- 
Second Massachusetts, for they did nothing of the kind. 
The detachment ran in, maintaining as good an alignment 
as the slippery soil would allow. 

A ridiculous proceeding occurred just after the detach- 
ment reached the line. A second-lieutenant, an acting 
staff-officer, came up in an excited manner and ordeied 
Lieutenant Tinkham to go back and retake the abandoned 
gun. Tinkham replied he would see him d— -d first, and 
to go and get it himself. With the darkness, fire opened 
on the enemy in front, the bad condition of the ground and 
the uncertainty just where the gun was at that moment, made 
the undertaking foolhardy, without a chance for success ;. 
in reality giving the enemy a present of so many prisoners. 
It was another instance of that want of judgment in an 
inexperienced officer, of which many examples were fur- 
nished in the whole history of General " Dick " Taylor's 
raid towards New Orleans. 

After reaching the line the detachment was posted on 
the extreme left, resting on the bayou and covering the 
road. Firing was continuate until about eight o'clock. The 
aKillery used canister ; there not being any canister for 
the 6 Pr. gun, packages of musket ammunition were used 
instead. The infantry were ordered to fire by rank, and 
opened in that manner, soon substituting firing at will. 
The smoke became quite dense and would not lift readilyy. 
on account of the dampness of the atmosphere. Nothing- 
could be seen in front, not even flashes of the enemy's 
guns; nothing to be heard, except continued reports of 
artillery and musketry-firing. 

When the order was given " cease firing," pickets were- 
thrown out, and the abandoned gun, near the rail fence^ 



298 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

left by the enemy when they withdrew, was brought in to 
the Federal lines. The wounded within reach were carried 
to a field-hospital that had been established in a planter's 
ihouse, about one-quarter of a mile in the rear. The 
Federals rested upon their arms, remaining in line of 
battle all night, with what sleep they could obtain under 
the circumstances. Moans and cries of the wounded, 
well to the front, could be distinctly heard. Totally desti- 
tute of provisions, and hungry, having been without food 
-of any consequence for forty-eight hours, worn out by loss 
oi sleep and fatigue, nothing but the excitement could 
have held the men up so long and prevented them from 
■breaking down completely. 

That many of the Confederates were crazy drunk and in 
no condition to continue a steady fight seems to be fully 
•established by the information obtained on Tuesday, when 
an advance to Thibodeaux was made. They were capable 
of making a bold dash, but no more ; repulsed, they 
•could not maintain a destructive fire. What firing came 
from their side was wild and high, as the total casualties 
to the entire Federal force engaged amply testifies. 

Notwithstanding General " Dick " Taylor, in his book 
•called " Destruction and Reconstruction," says that Colo- 
nel Major had no artillery with him, they fired a few shots 
from one field-gun while Tinkham and his men were at 
the rail fence. Whether they ceased firing because their 
ammunition was bad or damaged by rain, or compelled to 
■do so by shots from a gun of the Twenty-Fifth New York 
Battery that was placed in position upon the right to 
engage their gun, is not known. Prisoners stated that 
they had other guns in position, but the rain prevented 
their use. 

There were many sensational stories told next day of 
what was done along the line. Some men of the One 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 299 

Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York claimed to have 
performed special feats of valor. A careful inspection of 
the ground in front soon put to flight all belief in these 
•camp yarns. The enemy never got dangerously close, 
except in a few individual cases. An attempt made by 
them to gain the rear and turn the right flank caused the 
gunners of the Twenty-Fifth New York Battery to become 
panic stricken and abandon their gun, a 12 Pr. howitzer, 
posted at the angle made by the front and right flank 
thrown in reverse. This made two guns that the Twenty- 
Fifth New York artillery-men abandoned in this action, 
though only one came into possession of the enemy. 

The actual Federal force in this action was eight 
hundred and thirty-eight men ; about six hundred were 
•engaged ; the balance were posted upon the railroad bridge 
and to protect the right. The Federal loss in this action 
was : three killed, ten wounded, Twenty-Sixth Massa- 
chusetts Infantry; two killed, twelve wounded. One 
Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry ; one 
killed, three wounded, Forty-Second Massachusetts Infan- 
try; two killed, sixteen wounded, Twenty-Third Connec- 
ticut Infantry. 

Lieutenant Starr, Twenty-Third Connecticut, was the 
only commissioned officer injured in the action. He was 
wounded in the thigh, and afterwards died in consequence 
■of amputation. 

The force of Confederates engaged is estimated to have 
been six hundred men of the Second Texas Mounted 
Rangers, Colonel Pyron, claiming to be the oldest regi- 
ment in the Confederate service, and that they never 
before had been whipped in action. 

As General Taylor has published that only two hundred 
men under Colonel Pyron made an attack on La-Fourche 
Crossing, the attack being repulsed with a loss to the 

P 



300 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Confederates of only fifty-five killed and wounded,* the 
official report of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney is again 
quoted : " The enemy were engaged during the night in 
carrying away their killed and wounded who were out- 
side of our lines, and the following morning fifty-three of 
their dead were counted inside of our pickets. When 
we entered Thibodeaux, Tuesday morning, nearly sixty 
wounded were found in the hospitals, from which I con- 
clude that their loss in killed and wounded must have 
been three hundred, taking fifty as the number of their 
killed, and reckoning the ratio of killed to wounded as 
one to four." 

* General Taylor relies on the official report of Colonel Major for this statement. 
As a specimen of Confederate reports on their operations west of the Mississippi 
River during June and July, the following extract of Major's report of this action 
is given : 

"At Paincourtville received a despatch from Colonel Lane stating he had cap- 
tured the town, taking one hundred and forty prisoners and a large amount of stores, 
also a small force at Terrebonne Station, and that there was a force in strong position, 
with artillery, at La-Fourche Crossing. I pushed on and arrived at Thibodeaux at 
3.30 A.M., on the twenty-first. Pickets reported ree'nforcements from New Orleans- 
during the night, and at sun-up reported the enemy advancing. I posted Pyron's. 
regiment, West's battery and two squadrons cavalry on east bank La-Fourche, and 
moved them down towards the railroad bridge. Lane, Stone and Phillip were posted 
at Terrebonne Station, and they were moved forward to La-Fourche Crossing. The 
enemy fell back, and my pursuit was checked by one of the heaviest rains I ever saw 
fall. It rained until five p.m., and having only thirty rounds of ammunition to the 
man when I started, and not over one hundred cartridge boxes in the entire com- 
mand, my ammunition was nearly all ruined, and I found myself witli an enemy in 
front, rear, and on the flank, with only three rounds of ammunition to the man. I 
directed Pyron, as soon as it stopped raining, to strengthen his picket and feel the 
enemy, find his position, and test his strength, giving him some discretion in the 
matter. He advanced his picket, driving the enemy into his stronghold, and then 
charged his works, taking four guns and causing a great many of the Federals to* 
surrender. But night had come on ; it was very dark, the ammunition nearly all 
gone, and just at that moment a train with about three hundred fresh men arrived 
from New Orleans, and Pyron was forced to retire from a position won by a daring^ 
assault, unequalled, I think. In this war. Had I known his intention to assault 
the works I could have sent him such reenforcements as would have insured success. 
Pyron's strength In the attack was two hundred and six. The enemy's force, reported 
by themselves, was over one thousand." 

Some of these statements will cause a smile to spread o'er the face of men on the 
Federal side who were in this action. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 3OI 

Probably this is not an exaggeration, but many of the 
wounded must have been slightly so, not going into the 
hospitals, except for occasional treatment, else a larger 
number would have been captured. They left some badly 
wounded upon the field. One poor fellow was found 
bleeding to death from wounds, in a trench not over fifty 
feet in front of the line. 

Whether Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney is correct or not, 
in regard to the Confederate dead, Lieutenant Cooke, 
Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, reports the following facts, 
viz. : " On the morning of the twenty-second, when a 
lookout, stationed upon a house, reported a flag of truce 
coming, I happened to be standing near Stickney, who 
immediately turned to me and said : ' Meet them as far 
outside of our picket line as you possibly can, and I will 
despatch another ofiicer immediately to act as messenger.' 
I was upon my horse instantly, and galloped up the bayou 
road, running my sword-point through my handkerchief 
corners to make a flag of truce, meeting the party so far 
from our lines as to cause, I fancied, a shade of disappoint- 
ment to pass over the face of an officer in charge, which 
quickly changed to a smile as we drew rein and saluted ; 
he introduced himself as Captain Johnson, of Texas, and 
remarked that it was a singular coincidence that both sides 
should start out at the same time for a truce, and was much 
astonished when I said that I had come to meet him, hav- 
ing seen him approaching. He stated that he was sent by 
Colonel Major to ask permission to drive upon the battle 
field with their wagons and carry away their dead. The 
request was carried to Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, who 
replied that it was impossible to grant it, but if they would 
send their wagons to the point of negotiation he would 
receive and return them to the same point loaded. This 
was a necessity, for the majority of their dead lay so near 



302 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

our battle line had they been permitted to come near they 
would have gained an accurate knowledge of our position 
and numbers. Colonel Major assented to this modifica- 
tion of his request, and wagons soon began to arrive and. 
the work went on. After the transfer was made I inquired 
of those who were engaged in the work how many dead 
they found, and was told one hundred and sixty. These 
are the figures written in my diary at the time. I was 
also told that in one place fifteen bodies were found in; 
such close proximity as to justify the statement that they 
were slain in a heap. At my interview with Captaia 
Johnson, he complimented our forces in very flattering 
terms for the courage and steadiness with which they met 
and repelled the assault ; that had it been known we had 
such a large and well-disciplined force their action would 
have been less hasty and impetuous." 

The ground was cut at regular intervals by irrigating 
ditches, a probable reason why the enemy made their attack 
dismounted. These ditches made the ground unfavorable 
for cavalry. 

Two of the unwounded prisoners captured (sixteen in 
number) came in and surrendered to Lieutenant Tinkham,, 
after the firing had ceased. They must have secreted 
themselves under the lee of the bayou bank. 

The killed and wounded of the Forty-Second detach- 
ment were : 

Private Reuben Dyson, Company E, wounded fatally in 
the abdomen and hip, and died in a short time after he 
was carried to the rear. When wounded he clasped both 
hands across his abdomen and exclaimed : " What have I 
done that they should hit me ! " 

Sergeant Edmand A. Jones, Company B, was slightly 
wounded in the left shoulder. 

Private William Whiting, Company B, was wounded by 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 305 

a bullet in the back of his neck which passed out of his 
mouth, taking three teeth in its course. 

Private Daniel S. Woodman, Company B, was wounded 
in the right hand, losing one finger and part of the thumb 
joint ; also, shot in the right breast, the ball entering 
about two inches above the right nipple, passed through 
the upper part of his lung and came out through the 
shoulder blade. 

Private Dyson was buried on the field at La-Fourche. 
Private Woodman, too dangerously wounded to be removed,, 
was left in an abandoned planter's house in care of an old 
planter. Woodman had lain upon the field all night ; was 
carried to the hospital about noon next day, where his- 
wounds were dressed by surgeons of the Twenty-Third 
Connecticut and Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts. His clothes- 
were removed, as they were very bloody, and he lay naked 
almost a week, when a comrade procured some old, ragged 
clothing for him. He was brought from La-Fourche July 
31st, and came home with the regiment. 

Early on the morning of Monday, June 22d, the enem}'' 
were found to have retired near to Thibodeaux. Among 
the debris picked up upon the field was found some mus- 
kets that were indentified as belonging to the three com- 
panies Forty-Second, captured at Galveston. The wounded 
were cared for and the Federal dead buried. 

A Confederate flag of truce came with a request for per- 
mission to bury their dead and carry away their wounded. 
This was granted on condition that all of their wounded 
men outside the camp lines should be paroled, that none 
of their drivers should come within the outposts, and that 
all wounded within the camp should be retained. They 
agreed to these conditions, and men were engaged through- 
out the morning, with carts and wagons furnished by the 
enemy, in carrying their dead to Thibodeaux. 



304 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Very early in the morning there reached the crossing 
about six hundred men Fifteenth Maine Infantry, Colonel 
Isaac Dyer, a fresh regiment from Pensacola and Key 
West, under orders to reenforce the troops at Brashear 
City, and about eleven o'clock Colonel Cahill arrived from 
New Orleans with the Ninth Connecticut Infantry, two 
additional companies Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, and 
another section of the Twenty-P'ifth New York Battery. 
Colonel Cahill assumed command of the forces at La- 
Four che. 

The men who comprised the detachment Forty-Second 
Massachusetts behaved admirably in this, their maiden 
action, with the exception of Sergeant Albert L. Clark and 
Private John Donnell}^, both of Company B, who attempted 
to desert from their comrades, without leave, and board a 
train about to start for Algiers. They threw away their 
guns, and did not report to the detachment until Tuesday. 

Lieutenant Clifford was not in this action, as he rejoined 
the detachment from leave of absence after the action 
was over. 

Other men, attached to the several commands, showed 
the white feather, and the official report of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stickney says : " Their wounded in our hands 
thought that our troops must be regulars, so steadily did 
they stand at their posts ; but I regret to say that the 
train in waiting on the track left at the commencement of 
the fight, without orders, carrying away some cowardly 
soldiers, and that during the battle some few left their 
ranks and sought shelter near and behind the railroad." 

Among those who left by this train was the Twenty-Sixth 
Massachusetts color-bearer with his flag. He was ordered 
back to his regiment in a peremptory manner by General 
Emory, commanding the Defences of New Orleans. A 
word of defence is due this color-bearer. A brave, honor- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 305 

able and worthy man; when the darkness came on he 
was ordered by his commanding officer to retire from the 
line and remain with his color at a house just to the rear. 
Those panic-stricken men who ran away from the ranks 
passed this house towards the railroad, shouting : " All is 
i lost, the rebs are inside of our lines and gobbling up the 
I whole force." He supposed it to be true, and animated 
with a desire to save his flag also ran to the railroad, tear- 
ing his flag from the lance to secrete it upon his person. 
He felt the disgrace keenly, suffered mental agony, and 
died from the effect upon him in September following. 
None of his comrades thought him guilty of cowardice, 
rather a victim to circumstances, for he could not see the 
true situation. 

Lieutenant- Colonel Stickney officially makes special 
mention of two officers and one private. He says : "Major 
Morgans, commanding the One Hundred and Seventy- 
Sixth New York Regiment, through the action encouraged 
his men, and to him is due, in a great degree, the fine 
conduct that they showed. Captain Jenkins, command- 
ing the Twenty-Third Connecticut, displayed the greatest 
bravery and coolness. A Confederate officer seized him by 
the throat, demanding a surrender. The assault was imme- 
diately returned in precisely the same manner, when one 
of Captain Jenkins' men bayoneted the Confederate. I 
desire particularly to mention Sergeant John Allyn, Com- 
pany A, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, who has 
been with me since I was ordered to Brashear City, and 
I has at all times rendered the most valuable service, going 
I on dangerous scouts, once inside the enemy's lines, and 
showing at all times the greatest courage and remarkable 
sound judgment. His thorough knowledge of the country 
i and habit of reporting facts only were of the greatest 
I assistance to me." 



306 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Two companion incidents to the hand-to-hand scrape of 
Captain Jenkins are these : Lieutenant Cooke, acting 
adjutant Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, the action still in 
progress, was startled by the sudden appearance before 
him, inside of the battle line, of a Confederate lieutenant- 
colonel, who said : ^' Captain, I am badly wounded, will 
you be kind enough to take me to the rear." The lieu- 
tenant informed him he would do so, when he felt justified 
in taking men from the ranks to act as a guard, and con- 
ducted the wounded officer to a tent, standing not more 
than twenty yards to the rear, and saw him comfortably 
stretched out upon the straw. After the action was over, 
with no prospect of its renewal. Lieutenant Cooke went 
to this tent for his prisoner, to find him gone, without a clew 
to be obtained of his whereabouts. On the reconnoissance 
to Thibodeaux, twenty-third, this wounded officer was found 
in hospital, and paroled. He stated that while lying in 
the tent it occurred to him that in the darkness he might 
walk out of our lines, and did so without difficulty. 

Another case of foolhardy bravery was exhibited by a 
fiery Texan lieutenant, who rushed up to a field-gun, placing 
his hand upon it, in face of a dozen men, and demanded 
its surrender. Three men answered him ; one with a 
bayonet, one with a musket ball, the other with the butt 
of his gun, to send him down to mother earth fatally 
wounded, and with curses upon his lips of the men who 
did their duty. He was carried to the hospital, and lived 
four hours. 

No further hostile movement was made by either com- 
batants on Monday, except at about dark the Confederates 
fired a few rounds from one field-gun. On Tuesday, June 
23d, an advance was made to Thibodeaux by a part of the 
troops, now commanded by Colonel Cahill, to find the 
enemy had gone. Colonel Major with his Texans were well 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 307 

on their way towards the rear of Brashear City. At night 

, the Fifteenth Maine Infantry was sent back to New Orleans. 

! Wednesday morning, June 24th, at eight o'clock, five 

'companies Ninth Connecticut, under Lieutenant-Colonel 

Fitzgibbon, proceeded to Terrebonne Station as guard to 

a construction train, repairing the track for one mile 

beyond. Proceeding towards Chucahoula, twelve miles 

from Bayou Boeuff, the bridge, one mile from the station, 

was found to be on fire. This was extinguished, and the 

bridge repaired. Skirmishers were then deployed and 

i advanced towards the station, where the enemy was found 

i on the open land, behind buildings and fences, who at 

once commenced a sharp fire. Confined to the narrow 

track, a thickly-wooded swamp upon both sides, after 

engaging the enemy for one hour Lieutenant- Colonel 

: Fitzgibbon deemed it prudent to retire, also being recalled 

by a signal-gun fired at La-Fourche Crossing, nine miles 

distant, which the lieutenant-colonel says he heard. The 

Federal loss was three wounded, and two men taken 

prisoners by the enemy. 

Port Hudson still holding out, with work enough in 

prospect to occupy the attention of all the available forces 

in the Department, the troops that composed the force 

under General Emory, charged with the defence of New 

Orleans, reduced to a low number, and Brashear City lost, 

with all of the troops on duty between that place and 

La-Fourche Crossing, there existed no further necessity 

for holding the railroad line to Brashear. The ill-luck 

; experienced by General Emory in losing post after post, 

through cowardice and inefficiency of regimental officers, 

: surrendering without firing a gun, was not assuring as to 

: how far he could trust the balance of his force. Prudence 

: dictated to withdraw his troops close to the city where 

protection of the navy could be given. 



3o8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The Confederates pushed up from Brashear, bold and 
fearless, offering many opportunities to inflict some hard 
blows against their undisciplined troops if any equally 
bold officers had been with the Federal soldiers. This 
was not the case, and on June 26th the Federal force fell 
back to Boutee Station, twenty-four miles from Algiers, 
after they had spiked and abandoned three field-guns and 
some old iron guns ; an absurd gift to the enemy, without 
any valid excuse. 

With the energy displayed by the enemy, which the 
Federals did not meet with counter efforts, it was undoubt- 
edly sound policy to allow them to dash against the 
fortified defences whenever they felt so disposed. They 
moved quickly from place to place, leaving stragglers and 
scouting squads occupying all of the roads in the region of 
country upon the left bank held by them, looting where 
they could. Many of them could easily have been bagged 
by small forces equally as bold ; by so doing thrown them 
into much the same state of uncertainty where to look for 
a blow as existed among the Federal officers. 

While at Boutee Station orders from Colonel Cahill 
directed the Forty-Second detachment to be temporarily 
attached to the Fifteenth Maine and to proceed to the 
Metairie race-course, in New Orleans, where a camp was 
formed, comprised of detachments One Hundred and 
Seventy-Sixth New York, Twenty-Third Connecticut and 
Fifteenth Maine, with Grow's battery ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stickney in command of the force. These orders were coun- 
termanded on the same day and the detachment ordered to 
rejoin the regiment, then in New Orleans, and did so June 
29th, bringing under guard to the provost-marshal some 
sixty prisoners taken at La-Fourche and vicinity. 

On the thirtieth June the Federal force drew back to Jef- 
ferson Station, eight miles from Algiers, where fortifications 



I 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 309 



of a formidable character were thrown up by large gangs of 
negroes. This station was an outpost to the Defences of 
• New Orleans for some weeks, with pickets upon the roads 
and railroad line back to Algiers, and the river patroled by 
gunboats between Company Canal and Donaldsonville. 

While the Confederates under General Taylor raided on 
the various posts in the Parishes between the Atchafalaya 
and the Mississippi Rivers, picking up all scattered troops 
I found, to send them on parole to New Orleans, the garri- 
; son in the defences of the city was quite small. General 
I Banks had drawn all the men he dared to take in front of 
' Port Hudson, even bringing troops from Ship Island and 
] Pensacola. To offset this General Emory had all troops 
in the garrison, on whatever duty, kept ready from the 
nineteenth June until all danger was over to move readily 
at any moment with two days cooked rations and one hun- 
dred rounds per man. The Second Brigade, Second 
Division, was concentrated as far as possible ; all passes 
or leaves of absence were absolutely stopped ; convales- 
cent soldiers were got together and organized, and colored 
regiments, recruited from intelligent blacks of the city, 
were organized for sixty days service, under colored offi- 
cers. In this manner were sufficient troops obtained to 
do the needed garrison duty, furnish required guards and 
patrol service, while the regular forces attended to the 
extreme outposts. The First Texas Cavalry, Colonel 
Davis, did all of the scouting service, under direct orders 
from General Emory. 

This action at La-Fourche Crossing must not be con- 
founded with the disastrous engagement of July 13th at 
;Bayou La-Fourche, in which the Forty-Eighth, Forty-Ninth 
and Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiments formed a part of 
the Federal forces ; Colonel Dudley in command. 



3IO HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER XIII. 

July — In New Orleans — At Algiers. 

NEW ORLEANS on a Sunday during the summer of 
1863 would have shocked those staid old New Eng- 
landers who believed in a proper observance of the day. 
Army and navy officers, soldiers and sailors, who could 
obtain furloughs, did not hesitate to use the day for a 
grand spree. All the elements were there to have a merry 
time, and upon the Shell-road there was seen a cosmopo- 
lite crowd bent on enjoyment of the day. The colored 
population was always out in full force. Until one got so 
used to it that the novelty was gone, all this excitement, 
in endless variety, was not to be lost by those who could 
take part. 

The Fourth of July was made a gala-day. Salutes were 
fired morning, noon and night. A street parade was made 
by the Forty-Second Massachusetts and a few small com- 
panies from the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New 
York, Twenty-Third Connecticut Infantry and Twenty- 
Fifth New York Battery, with two squadrons cavalry, as 
an escort to a procession of citizens, mostly dark colored. 
Fireworks in front of the Custom House at night closed 
the jubilations of the day. 

At the Custom House the regiment remained until July 
14th, on provost duty and on guard over Confederate 
prisoners, confined in the best part of the building. The 
treatment of these prisoners was good ; their food was 
the same furnished to the regiment on guard, and except 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 3II 

deprivation of their liberty they had no reason to com- 
plain. It was a hot time the day these Confederate 
officers arrived from Port Hudson. A large crowd of 
sympathizers were on hand to welcome them, so boisterous 
in behavior the cavalry-men, who assisted the infantry 
guard, in a number of cases lost their temper and drove 
the people into stores and houses by backing their horses 
into the crowd ; sabres were also used a few times. The 
crowd threatened at one time to make an attempt to seize 
some stacked arms in a street near the Custom House, after 
the prisoners were placed in quarters. In a day or two 
quiet was restored and all expressions of sympathy ceased. 

While on duty in the city all drills were suspended ; 
parades of ceremony, guard-mounting and dress parade, 
took place on the reserved ground in the centre of Canal 
Street. These parades were gone through with in an 
indifferent manner on account of hot weather and debility, 
which began to affect a great majority of the men. Not 
being acclimated the extreme hot weather told on their 
health in a marked degree ; not exactly in a condition to 
be called sick, they did not feel well; what duty had to be 
done was made easy as possible. Guards for hospitals, 
men for patrol, funeral escorts, and regular sentry duty 
at quarters kept at work every man able to do duty. One 
funeral escort was furnished every day, always at six 
o'clock in the afternoon. 

After several assaults had been made upon solitary 
unarmed soldiers by the rough element in the city, an 
order was issued July nth for every officer and soldier to 
wear his side-arms whenever upon the street. Several 
men had been roughly handled, and reports were current 
of the assassination of two men in the suburbs, but of the 
truth of this report there is no definite knowledge. The 
night patrol had orders to prevent more than three persons 



312 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

assembling together and to arrest all officers and men of 
the army without side-arms. The patrol furnished by the 
Forty-Second consisted of one lieutenant and eighteen 
men, who covered all streets within the limits of — from St. 
Mary's Market to Eliseum Field Street, to Dauphin Street, 
to Canal Street, to St. Charles Street, to Julia Street, to 
Tchoupitoulas Street, and to Custom House Street. These 
limits covered many questionable places of resort and 
afforded night patrols an opportunity to see very curious 
incidents. At reunions of the regiment these incidents 
form the basis of a large number of amusing anecdotes. 

To while away care and to lighten the burden of duty a 
few officers and men conceived an idea of forming a mock 
Sons of Malta Lodge. Prominent in this amusement were 
Captain Leonard, Lieutenants Sanderson and Phillips, Ser- 
geant-Major Bosson, Sergeants Nichols, Vialle, Attwell, 
and others. The first move was to secure a victim for an 
initiation ceremony. It was decided to try Sergeant John 
Binney, of Company A, a man well known to all on duty 
at the Custom House. After broaching the subject in a 
careful way to the sergeant, he was anxious to join such a 
lodge, which he was informed had already been formed, 
and thought it an excellent idea. He was kept in sus- 
pense a few days on the plea that his name would have to 
go before the lodge, and if not black-balled he would be 
admitted on a certain evening. ^Binney caught at the bait 
like a hungry fish. 

When everything was ready the pseudo-\odig& members 
assembled, masked, in a dimly-lighted room in the Custom 
House, prepared for fun. A bugle, trombone, bass-drum and 
cymbals were procured from the band, officers appointed, 
and the sergeant, blindfolded, was admitted after passing 
through certain mock forms at the door. All worked well ; 
the questions and answers and chorus from lodge members 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 313 

were carried out with due decorum until the moment the 
embrace of fellowship was to be given. 

There was attached to Company C, as cook, an immense 
large negro, a regular old plantation hand, tall, burly look- 
ing, black as coal, with an odor about him as bad as from 
a skunk. With some difficulty, and not without threats, 
this negro was got into the room and made to strip naked 
to the waist. As the arms of Binney were placed around 
this negro and his head laid upon the bare, black breast 
the whole ceremony came near being spoiled by those 
present bursting into a roar of laughter ; fortunately this 
was stifled, and amid a crashing din, made by band 
instruments, gas was turned on and the bandage removed 
from the eyes of candidate Binney. For a moment dead 
silence reigned, while Binney stared around and then at 
the negro in such a manner those present can never forget. 
Suddenly he kicked him, and with an exclamation more 
forcible than polite he proceeded to kick him out of the 
room amid peals of laughter. The negro did not lose any 
time in escaping from Binney's wrath, for the poor fellow 
had been almost frightened out of his wits during the ini- 
tiation ; large drops of sweat stood out upon his face and 
breast like moisture on a well-filled ice pitcher. 

Binney was mad. It was some time before he was 
cooled down. Finally he saw the joke, took it good- 
naturedly, and had his revenge in assisting at the initiation 
of others. Quite a number were " put through," but as 
the proceedings leaked out candidates became scarce, and 
the lodge adjourned sine die. 

While at Bayou Gentilly there was much discussion 
among some officers and men about their time of enlist- 
ment, caused by a regimental order, issued May 19th, 
promulgating the time of service for the regiment to expire 
on July 14th. Opinions varied, and naturally the men 



314 

inclined to believe that theory which made their time for 
discharge come early. Some company officers allowed 
themselves to display their ignorance by agreeing with the 
short-term men, and did all in their power to keep up that 
belief. Those who knew better did not try to stop this 
short-term theory by informing the men of the true facts 
in the case. By a decision of the War Department, pro- 
mulgated at the time when nine months regiments were 
called for, and modified at various times so that it was at 
last expressly stated that companies could be mustered 
when full, the men to draw pay from time of enlistment, 
though it be a month or two before their company was 
mustered ; that when ten companies were mustered and 
formed into a regiment, then the field and staff were to be 
mustered, and the time of the regiment would date from 
the time the tenth company was mustered into service. 
This should have been known by all officers. Men in 
the companies who did not have the correct information 
imparted to them had an idea their term expired from 
date of muster of each company, and thought they could 
be sent home by companies. These men seemed to think 
of nothing but to get home as soon as possible, and they 
did not show any pride in the duty of a soldier, nor any 
regard for the cause they were in service for. 

A few company commanders sent in to Department 
headquarters a notification their time would be out on a 
certain date — which was required by regulations — and 
received for reply the information, in substance, as issued 
by the War Department. Notwithstanding this official 
information they still refused to believe such to be the 
case, and took no steps to quell a mutinous sentiment 
which prevailed to a great extent ; men swearing they 
would rather be shot than do another day's duty, and 
similar foolish remarks. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 315 

This feeling reached a climax on the morning of July 
14th. In the morning orders had been received to have 
the companies in readiness to move at a moment's notice, 
in light marching order. The men and a few officers 
declared the time of the regiment had expired, and refused 
to do further duty. It was necessary to notify General 
Emory. The day before it was with difficulty a detach- 
ment of seventy-three men was furnished Lieutenant- 
Colonel Fitzgibbon, who ordered the detail. 

The men on duty were assembled upon the top of the 
Custom House and addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel W. 
D. Smith, One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteers, 
acting assistant-adjutant-general on the staff of the gen- 
eral commanding. The trouble was mortifying, besides 
interfering with plans of the general, and it is no wonder 
Lieutenant-Colonel Smith could not control his temper, 
and used threats, cornbined with entreaty, to bring the 
men to a proper sense of their duty. The state of affairs 
was told to them, with a warning of what to expect if a 
refusal to do duty was persisted in. One officer. Lieu- 
tenant Duncan, Company F, protested, claiming that his 
time had expired, and asked in the name of justice that he 
and his men be sent home. He was promptly placed in 
arrest and his sword taken from him. This summary 
action was well-timed, for Lieutenant Duncan was a special 
champion of the "want to go home" men. It was proof 
to the men to butt against the Government was not an easy 
matter. When the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts marched 
into the Custom House in the afternoon, to occupy their 
old quarters and relieve the Forty-Second, ordered to 
Algiers, the men thought and so expressed themselves that 
the commanding officer intended to coerce the regiment 
into doing duty, if it was found necessary. Fortunately, 
without further difficulty, the regiment went over to Algiers 



3l6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

in the afternoon. Lieutenant Duncan was released from 
arrest and his sword returned, after an apology for his 
hasty, ill-timed behavior. 

A history of the regiment would not be correct, and 
the truth not told, without recording these events, though 
it is unpleasant to do so. All true friends of the 
Forty-Second have every reason to be thankful noth- 
ing further took place to bring discredit on the regi- 
ment. This ebullition of sentiment about expiration of 
time of enlistment is the only act the enlisted men, as 
a body, have reason to feel ashamed about during their 
term of service. 

From the fourteenth to the twenty-ninth the regiment 
was on picket duty upon the Opelousas and Gulf Railroad. 
Headquarters of troops on the west bank of the Missis- 
sippi River were at Company Canal, Brigadier-General 
McMillan in command (from July 21st, when he relieved 
Colonel Plumley) of all troops from Algiers to Des Alle- 
mands, and troops were pushed forward to La-Fourche 
Crossing, repairing the track and bridges to that point. 
The picket-detail usually consisted of from thirty to forty 
men, who were out on duty forty-eight hours, carrying 
rations for that time, their blankets and mosquito bars. 
The bars did not prove effective protection, and it was 
generally the case these men could not obtain any sleep, 
for they were obliged to keep awake and fight the terribly 
annoying insects. This was all of the fighting done on 
picket. 

This picket duty extended to Jefferson Station, eight 
miles from Algiers, where two companies of Colonel 
Desanger's regiment of sixty-day free colored troops and 
a battery of artillery were on duty. These colored troops 
were neatly dressed in the United States regulation uni- 
form, and to all appearances were doing their duty well. 



b 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 317 

Besides this picket-detail a guard was retained on duty, 
comprising nine men from Company A, eight men from 
Company B, nine men from (!t)mpany C, five men from 
Company E, seven men from Company F, seven men from 
Company H, forty-five men in all, and acting Lieutenant 
George G. Nichols, Company G, under the command of 
Lieutenant White, Company C, who were sent to the 
Bellevue Iron Works in Algiers, July 13th, to relieve a 
guard from the Ninth Connecticut over Confederate pris- 
oners of war confined there. 

Another permanent guard was detailed for duty at 
Canal Street and French Market Ferries from New 
Orleans. Their duty was to prevent soldiers or citizens 
from crossing over without passes and to arrest suspi- 
cious persons. 

Algiers and vicinity would not have pleased a tourist, 
with its delapidated and uncared-for buildings, abandoned 
and neglected plantations and small population. All 
drills were stopped. Men not on duty could stroll where 
they pleased. A mixed contraband camp, not far away, 
was a favorite spot for many men to pass their spare 
hours. The men raided on all watermelon patches within 
a radius of several miles until complaints were made to 
the provost-marshal. In more than one case did these 
melons effect a cure of that scourge in armies — chronic 
diarrhoea. Singular as it may seem several men with this 
complaint, unable to get relief from the surgeons, were 
completely cured by eating these melons. 

Quarters were taken in an old salt warehouse close to 
the river, with all the companies located in the building, 
space allotted each company, every man making himself 
comfortable upon the floor. Doors and windows torn out, 
there was no trouble about ventilation in the extreme hot 
weather that prevailed. The guard occupied tents on 



3l8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the opposite side of the road ; the company cooks* and 
kitchens were in tents upon the levee. A house situated 
within a fine orchard, not far from the men's quarters, was 
used by the surgeons for a hospital, the grounds in front 
for the field and staff-officers' tents. 

Each night, after taps, the men made this salt warehouse 
ring with fun and music up to midnight. Many rough 
remarks were passed to and fro with special reference to 
the lieutenant-colonel, who, the men thought, was not 
exerting himself to obtain transportation home. As great 
injustice was done Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman while at 
Algiers, it is proper some of the correspondence in rela- 
tion to securing passage North should be read by the 
regiment. At first he endeavored to have the paroled 
men sent home ; affairs in the Department would not 
warrant an application to send home those men able to do 
duty, as every man was wanted. 

" Headquarters 42D Regiment, Mass. Vols., 
"Custom House, New Orleans, La., July 5th, 1863. 

"*S/r, — I would respectfully present the following facts 
to the attention of the commanding general of the De- 
fences of New Orleans : 

"January ist, 1863, three companies of the Forty- 
Second Massachusetts Volunteers, viz., D, G and I, under 
Colonel I. S. Burrell, were taken prisoners at Galveston, 
Texas. These men were taken to Houston and kept 

* One day a negro cook of Company C (the same man who took a part in the Sons 
of Maha ceremonies at the New Orleans Custom House) got into a difficulty with a 
camp-follower colored boy. Bantered into frenzy by this little devil the cook got a 
small dagger, and would have committed a murder had not the sergeant-major and 
Private John Davis, Company H, seized him, as he was about to stab the boy. A 
short struggle took place before this dagger was obtained. For punishment the negro 
cook was kicked for some distance down the road. Whatever became of the burly, 
quick-tempered negro has often been a subject of speculation among those who 
remember him. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 319 

several weeks, when they were sent to our lines at Baton 
Rouge and paroled. February 25th they arrived in New 
Orleans and were ordered by General Sherman to report 
to me at the camp of the Forty-Second Regiment at Gen- 
tilly Crossing, on the Ponchartrain Railroad, since which 
time they have been in camp at that place. 

" These men have had nothing to do or to engage their 
attention, and as a consequence they have become very 
low spirited and much reduced in bodily vigor. Several 
of them have lately died very suddenly, and several are 
daily taken sick. One sergeant taken sick July 3d was 
buried July 4th. 

"The time of this regiment expires the fourteenth of 
this month, according to the rule established by the War 
Department for the service of the nine months troops, 
this date being nine months from the date of muster of 
the last company in the regiment. In view of these cir- 
cumstances and of the fact that these men have been of 
no service to the Government in their present condition, I 
would respectfully ask the commanding general that they 
be sent to their homes as soon as possible. 

"Many of these men are from the best families in 
Boston and vicinity, and their friends are deeply anxious 
that they should be sent North, and personally I am 
deeply interested that their case may be acted on at an 
early day, for if they are kept in this climate even a few 
weeks longer many more will be lost by reason of sickness, 
not only to their friends but for future use to the country. 

" There are also at Algiers forty-four men from different 
companies of this regiment who are paroled, having been 
taken at Brashear City ; these with those first spoken of 
make a total of two hundred and seventy-six paroled men 
of this regiment. 

" By allowing these men to be sent to their homes not 



320 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

onl)^ a humane act will be accomplished but a great and 
never-to-be-forgotten favor will be bestowed on these men, 
who faithfully served their country when in service, and 
on many true friends of the Union in Massachusetts. 
" With the highest consideration, 

" I remain, your obedient servant, 

"J. STEDMAN, Lietctenant-Colond, 

" co7nmandmg 4.2 d Mass. Vols, 

" To LiEUT.-CoL. W. D. Smith, A. A. General, 

^'' Defences Neiv Orleans T 

The transport-steamer F. A. Scott was partially promised 
by Provost-Marshal-General Bowen, but on July nth he 
wrote Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman as follows : " General 
Emory, in view of the altered condition of affairs since 
the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, revokes the order 
for the transportation of the paroled soldiers of the Forty- 
Second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers to New York.'' 
This letter was the first intimation that an early return 
North could be expected of all nine months regiments 
whose time had expired. Until the two Confederate strong- 
holds surrendered they would have been retained in the 
Department. 

As a matter of form a letter was sent to the Department 
commander June 19th, stating the time of expiration of 
service, with a request for transportation to Massachusetts. 

The two following letters explain themselves : 

" Headquarters Forty-Second Regt., Mass. Vols., 

" Lafayette Square, New Orleans, June 21st, 1863. 
" Sir, — I have the honor to report that your communi- 
cation of the eighteenth instant, relative to the muster 
into service of this regiment, is received. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 32 I 

" I would respectfully state that no formal muster was 
ever made of this regiment, and the field and staff were 
mustered on the eleventh November, 1862. But the War 
Department have decided that in the case of the nine 
months' troops their time was to expire nine months from 
the date of muster of the last company, which in this 
regiment was the fourteenth of October, making our time, 
as above, the fourteenth of July next. 

" I received a short time since an official order from 
Governor Andrew, based on an order from Secretary 
Stanton, that the time would be reckoned as above stated. 

" I have the honor to remain, 

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

"J. STEDM AN, ZieuU7iaMf-Co/one/, 

^'commanding 42 d Mass. Vols. 

"To LiEUT.-CoL. R. B. Irwin, A. A. General, 

'■^ igth Army Corps'' 

"Headquarters Forty-Second Regt., Mass., Vols. 

"Camp at Algiers, La., July 27th, 1863. 
''^ Sir, — The time of service of the Forty -Second 
Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers having expired the 
fourteenth instant, I would respectfully request that trans- 
portation be furnished the regiment for their return to 
Massachusetts. I would state for the information of the 
: commanding general that the aggregate strength of the 
■regiment at this time is as follows: on duty with the 
regiment and on detached service, including sick, five 
ihundred and eighty ; paroled enlisted men, two hundred 
and seventy-five ; this making a total of eight hundred and 
ififty-five officers and enlisted men, for whom I apply for 
itransportation. Of this number from twenty to thirty will be 



32 2 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

unable to travel with the regiment on account of sickness, 
and these will need separate transportation. Of the above 
number I have only about two hundred men fit for duty. 
Many have become debilitated from exposure and from 
the effects of the climate (fever and ague being quite 
prevalent), which incapacitated them for duty at the 
present time. 

" Of all the commissioned officers I have only the 
adjutant, one captain and nine lieutenants for duty, the 
balance being either sick, on detached service, or pris- 
oners of war at Huntsville, Texas. 

" I have five captains sick, who will probably nevei 
get well in this climate. In view of the present con- 
dition of the regiment I would urgently request that 
this matter receive an early consideration from the com- 
manding general, on the ground of humanity, if for no 
other reason. 

" The paroled men have done no duty since their cap- 
ture at Galveston January ist, and they have become 
much debilitated from this constant inactivity, and they 
have lost a large percentage of their number by death, 
and many more will be lost, not only to their friends but 
to their country, if a change of climate is not granted 
them soon. 

" Nothing has yet been asked of the Forty-Second 
Regiment that they have not fully carried out, and ii 
Port Hudson still remained in the hands of the enemy 
there is not a man but would volunteer to stay to 
assist in any manner in accomplishing so desirable 
a result, as its capture. 

"But having been informed that the exigencies do not 
now exist for our services that prevailed previous to the 
fourteenth of July, and our time having expired, as above 
stated, every member of the regiment is more or less 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 323 

anxious that the Government should allow them their right 
of returning to their homes and friends. 
" I have the honor to remain, 

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"J. STEDMAN, Lieutenant- Colonel, 

" commanding ^2(1 Mass. Vols. 

" To LiEUT.-CoL. R. B. Irwin, A. A. General, 

'' igth Army Corps r 

A letter from Brigadier-General McMillan, dated July 
28th, stated that the major-general commanding the Depart- 
ment would send all nine months men home in such order 
as he would select, and as fast as transportation could be 
obtained ; that he would send all at once if he could, and 
that all petitions and representations would fail to expedite 
the sending. 

July 17th — Paroled men of Companies D, G, I, A, B, 
E and H arrived at Algiers from Gentilly Camp and were 
assigned quarters in the warehouse. 

July 2ist — Company K rejoined the regiment. 
On one occasion while at Algiers an act of insubordina- 
tion had to be summarily dealt with. Details for picket 
duty had been ordered, and first-sergeants had notified 
their men for that duty. When the hour arrived to " fall 
in" and report to the adjutant, the men from Companies 
IC, H and E refused to do so. Their company officers 
Iproved powerless to enforce the orders, and the case was 
Ireported at regimental headquarters, when the lieutenant- 
colonel, major, adjutant and sergeant-major went to quar- 
ters to straighten matters out. Most of the trouble was 
in Companies C and H. Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman 
ordered the first-sergeant of Company C to order his 
detail to " fall in," fully equipped. The first man called 



324 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

absolutely refused to do so. He was given five minutes 
to obey by the lieutenant-colonel, who held his watch in 
one hand and a pistol in the other. This man reluctantly 
did as ordered before the time expired, and the rest fol- 
lowed suit. No difficulty was experienced with other 
company details, and the picket on duty was regularly 
relieved. This ended all serious trouble of this kind, 
although Private Lawrence Mannocks, Company I, was 
placed in arrest July 19th for inciting to mutiny and 
indulging in blasphemous remarks ; it was also necessary, 
on the twenty-eighth, to reduce to the ranks Corporal 
Thomas P. Hobart, Company A ; a regimental special 
order was issued to that effect. At Battery St. John Cap- 
tain Coburn reduced to the ranks Corporal E. C. Crocker, 
Company A, June 5th. 

The guard-house was filled each day by men tempo- 
rarily placed there for being drunk. They were old, 
hard, chronic cases, poor soldiers, unfit to be in service. 
Captain Leonard, Company C, found it necessary, in June 
and July, to arrest and confine quite a number of his men 
for disobedience of orders. Of his men, Private Charles 
F. Towle was in arrest from June loth to July 13th, for 
desertion ; Private John Myers, for same cause, from July 
I St to the loth. No further action was taken in either case. 

Confinements in the guard-house while at Gentilly were 
few. Privates Owen Fox, Michael Bresneau, Company A, 
and Thomas Matthews, Company D, frequently got placed 
there for drunkenness, disobedience of orders, and inso- 
lence. Private Fox was once sentenced to carry cannon 
balls for two days (February 25th and 26th), without a 
proper hearing into his case in the regular manner. Pri- 
vate Bresneau was once confined a week for insolence. 
At other times they would be released in a few days, 
when sober. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 325 

At Algiers the men suffered more from sickness than at 
any other period of service. The regimental hospital was 
at Bayou Gentilly until July i8th, Surgeon Heintzelman 
in charge, leaving that part of the regiment at Algiers 
without a medical-officer, as Surgeon Hitchcock was at 
Port Hudson on a visit, without orders. Hitchcock always 
claimed permission was granted him to go there, but the 
only order received at regimental headquarters which 
authorized his absence was Special Orders No. 207, De- 
fences New Orleans, issued April 19th, 1863, ordering him 
to report for duty at Berwick Bay, where he remained for 
a short time. Department Special Orders No. 185, issued 
July 30th, read : "Relieved from duty at Berwick Bay." 
This want of a surgeon caused a letter to be sent the 
medical director. Defences New Orleans, which read : " I 
would respectfully bring to your attention the following 
facts : many men of this command are sick at this camp, 
and without any medical attendance. Unless a surgeon 
can be sent us some of our men will die in forty-eight 
hours. The reason of our being destitute of a surgeon 
will be explained by Chaplain Sanger, the bearer of this 
note. Please send us a good surgeon for temporary ser- 
vice." Surgeon Hitchcock allowed a personal matter with 
the lieutenant-colonel to interfere with his duty. 

The medical director had the regimental hospital re- 
moved to Algiers on the nineteenth, in order to secure 
the services of Surgeon Heintzelman. 

The hospital record tells the following story of sickness 
in July. At Bayou Gentilly, July 2d, forty-four men were 
taken sick, most of the cases among the paroled men 
recently arrived from Brashear City. On the third, of sick 
in quarters : fourteen were in Company A, twelve in B, 
six in C, two in D, fourteen in E, and eight in H. July 
4th, ninety-five men were sick : twenty-seven in hospital 



326 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SEGOND REGIMENT, 

and sixty-eight in quarters. The average sick per day ar 
Gentilly up to July nth was : taken sick, twelve ; returned 
to duty, ten ; in hospital, twenty-seven ; in quarters, fift\ - 
five. At Algiers, July 20th, one hundred and seven ne 
cases were reported on the sick list ; nearly all were sicl; 
in quarters. The largest number sick on any one day was 
reported by the surgeon in his morning report of July 22d, 
when one hundred and forty-five men were sick and unfit 
for duty, in and out of hospital, viz. : Company A, twenty- 
one ; B, twenty-two ; C, seventeen ; D, two ; E, twenty- 
seven ; F, fifteen ; G, two ; H, eighteen ; I, five ; K, 
sixteen. Not until the twenty-third did the paroled men 
from Galveston begin to show signs of breaking down, 
when eleven men of Company D, six of G, and eight of I 
Were taken sick. After this date sick in quarters gradually 
diminished, but the sick in hospital kept that building full. 
The average sick per day at Algiers was : taken sick, 
twenty-three ; returned to duty, seventeen ; in hospital, 
thirty ; in quarters, sixty-two. 

Had the regiment remained in the Department another 
month the deaths would have doubled those in July, owing to 
the debilitated condition of many men. The deaths were : 

July 4th — Sergeant Philip P. Hackett, Company G, 
congestion of the brain. At Gentilly. 

July 7th — Corporal Uriel Josephs, Company A, jaun- 
dice. At Marine Hospital, New Orleans. 

July 8th — Private Rufus G. Hildreth, Company C, 
dysentery. At Gentilly. 

July i2th — Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry C. Foster, 
suicide. In New Orleans. 

July 17th — Private Thomas J. Clements, Company H, 
chronic diarrhoea. At Gentilly. 

July 17th — Private Welcome Temple, Company H, dis- 
ease not known. At United States Barracks. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 327 

July — Private Patrick Fitzpatrick, Compan}- E. chronic 
diarrhoea. In New Orleans. 

July 26th — Private Ezekiel W. Hanaford, Company H, 
chills and fever. At St. James Hospital, New Orleans. 

July 25th — Private John M. Gates, Company K, chronic 
diarrhoea. At Algiers. 

July 26th — Private William H. Bickers, Company G, 
swelling of glands. At Algiers. 

Sergeant Hackett (at one time an active member of old 
Barnicoat Engine No. 4, of Boston) was a clever man, full 
of life and good spirits. His disease was the result of 
hard drinking. 

Corporal Josephs was a thorough believer in the cold- 
water cure. When his disease first showed its symptoms, 
about one month before he died, while on duty as ord- 
nance-sergeant, he refused to report to the surgeon, but 
got permission to hire a room in a house not far distant 
on the Gentilly road. Every day he would bathe in a tub 
of water and then go to bed wrapped up in a wet sheet, 
until the landlady complained at headquarters about the 
corporal acting like a crazy man in her house, and asked 
for his removal. As Josephs was found to be very sick, 
he was removed to the Marine Hospital in the city. 

Poor Hildreth lost all courage and hope a month before 
his death. He was then able to move about, and was 
cheered up by those who met him, without any effect. 
Had he shown some strength of will, as others did, he 
might have reached home and recovered. 

The case of Private Gates was sad. Although blind in 
one eye and quite old when mustered into service, being 
a good marksman, very enthusiastic to serve, the officers 
and men of his company assisted him to deceive the 
mustering officer that he was only forty-two years old. 
He did duty manfully until his disease took such a hold 



b 



328 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

upon him that he gradually wasted away. At his death 
he could not have weighed more than fifty pounds. 

Private Bickers was unconscious when he died. He 
was placed on an operating chair in an upright position, a 
nurse standing near with a fan to stir the air for him to 
breathe, and drive away swarms of flies infesting the place. 
Around the room were beds arranged upon the floor, occu- 
pied by sick patients, all watching with intense interest 
poor Bickers draw his last breath. The sight was not 
calculated to give them courage, for Bickers was sick in 
the hospital only a short time. 

Privates Temple, Fitzpatrick and Hanaford were sent 
to the general hospitals for better treatment than could 
be given them in the regimental hospital. During the 
latter part of July medical supplies became scarce. With 
difficulty were sufficient quantities of proper medicines 
obtained to treat a majority of cases ; the supply of 
quinine gave out completely. Such a large quantity of 
medical stores lost at Brashear City could not be replaced 
until supplies from New York were received. 

Private Hanaford lay upon the warehouse floor for 
some days, suffering with chills and fever, and nothing 
could be done for him. When taken with chills, it seerried 
as though he would shake the breath out of him. His 
removal to St. James Hospital was not made until nearly 
dead. This case caused much comment among the men, 
who freely charged he had been neglected. 

About noon, July 12th, word was brought in to the 
headquarters room by a corporal in charge of the guard 
stationed at a house on Canal Street, corner of Magazine 
Street, occupied by the regimental quartermaster, quarter- 
master-sergeant and commissary-sergeant, that Quarter- 
master-Sergeant Foster had committed suicide a few 
minutes before. The news was hardly credited, but an 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 329 

immediate visit to his room, in which the sad event 
happened, proved it to be a fact. Foster lay upon the 
floor near the centre of the room, not far from a bureau, 
feet towards the door, dressed in his flannel shirt, pants 
and socks, just as he fell ; a small pool of blood upon the 
floor near his head, a small bullet wound in the centre of 
his forehead, encircled by a small black-and-blue ring, and 
a pistol upon the floor by his side. Sergeant Foster had not 
been in good health for some time, and latterly shown 
great despondency. The reason was not known. His sick- 
ness was nothing more than came from extreme debility, 
and was not dangerous. For a few days previous he had 
given some evidence of not being exactly in his right 
mind, but there was nothing exhibited to lead any one to 
think him not capable of taking care of himself. He occu- 
pied a room with acting Quartermaster- Sergeant Hodsdon, 
both men sleeping in the same bed. 

That morning Hodsdon thought Foster spoke and acted 
queer, without exciting any suspicion however, and when 
obliged to go out on business Hodsdon, contrary to his 
usual custom, laid his belt, containing a holster and pistol, 
upon the bureau, intending to be back in a moment and 
then wear it. He left the room, leaving Foster upon the 
bed, and had barely closed the door when he heard the 
report of a pistol and immediately opened the door again, 
to see Foster lying upon the floor as described. He never 
spoke, dying in a few moments. 

His effects were taken in charge by the chaplain and 
sent to his parents, then residing in Dorchester, Massa- 
chusetts, from which place Foster enlisted. From a 
partial examination of his knapsack, where a few letters 
were found, it was thought the sad act was caused by 
unwelcome news from home. 

The weather being hot, by orders of the commanding 



330 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

general all bodies had to be buried the same day that death 
occurred. Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster was buried in 
Greenwood Cemeter}^, at dusk, on the twelfth, escorted to 
the cemetery by a proper detail becoming to his rank, 
under command of Sergeant-Major Bosson, and the cus- 
tomary volleys fired over his grave. The burial party 
started at half-past three in the afternoon, and reported 
back to quarters at nine o'clock same evening. 

Corporal Alonzo I. Hodsdon was made quartermaster- 
sergeant, July 13th, vice Foster, deceased. 

Special-duty details in July were few : 

July i8th — Private William A. Clark, Company B, was 
placed on duty as a wagoner. 

July 23d — Private Leavitt Bates, Company A, was 
made clerk at regimental headquarters in place of Clark 
K. Denny, returned to duty with Company F. 

July 25th — Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, to be a 
locomotive engineer on the Opelousas and Great Western 
Railroad. 



I 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. T,^ 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Companies C and H on Detached Service at Camp 
Parapet. 

SPECIAL ORDERS No. i6, issued from headquar- 
ters Defences of New Orleans, January 15th, 1863, 
detailed Companies C and H for duty in the Department 
engineer service. The two companies made a skeleton 
battalion, under command of Senior-Captain Leonard, 
who, after reporting to Major D. C. Houston, chief-engi- 
neer Nineteenth Army Corps, for instructions, on the 
seventeenth marched them to Camp Parapet, three miles 
up river, with their camp equipage, and pitched tents 
upon a level piece of low, muddy land, formerly used 
as a burial place for soldiers. This Camp Parapet 
was so called because a large number of troops were 
in car»p near earthworks thrown up a few miles above 
Carrollton, These works then consisted of a parapet 
and other fortifications on the east bank, between the 
river, the swamps and Lake Ponchartrain, with an aban- 
doned Confederate redoubt upon the west bank, re-named 
Fort Banks. 

The camp was moved to a fig grove January 21st, tents 
provided with floors, and here the battalion remained until 
relieved from detached duty, without suffering any incon- 
venience except, when a portion of camp was drowned 
out, February 15th, by a terrible thunder shower that 
forced men to seek shelter in barns not far away. Regular 
Sunday and monthly inspections were maintained, with an 



332 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

occasional drill. The inspections were thorough, as they 
should always be, and more drills would have been ordered 
had the details been less heavy. The companies suffered 
from a lack of commissioned officers. In Company C, 
Captain Leonard, as battalion commander, occupied the 
best quarters obtainable in the vicinity, and exercised 
command as such. Lieutenant White, absent on detached 
duty a greater part of the time, left but one company 
officer on duty. Lieutenant Sanderson. In Company H, 
Captain Bailey took things easy until placed in arrest 
April i6th, leaving Lieutenant Phillips the only company 
officer on duty ; Lieutenant Gould was on detached service 
as an acting quartermaster. 

There was little sickness among the men in this detach- 
ment during their stay at the Parapet. The position of 
their camp was more favorable for health than others at 
the post, with the additional good feature of being kept 
scrupulously neat; the prettiest camp at the post. On the 
extreme right of the earthworks, near the Jackson Rail- 
road track, ground was so unhealthy it was nicknamed 
" Camp Death." Here the One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth 
New York suffered severely from sickness. This ground, 
near the railroad, was also a risky place for the troops 
there stationed on account of shells exploding in the 
neighborhood, fired from the gunboats when practising to 
obtain a range of this road. All shells had time fuses 
and would explode high in air, but fragments occasionally 
fell where not wanted. On one occasion, March 31st, a 
shell from the Portsmouth went over the One Hundred 
and Fifty-Sixth New York camp to explode nearly half a 
mile away, as every one thought, yet a large fragment was 
flung into camp and took off the head of a Zouave, who 
did not dream his death was so near. At another time 
a shell in passing over Companies C and H camp pre- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. ^^;^ 

maturely exploded overhead ; pieces were flung into camp, 
fortunately without injury to anybody. 

Among the few inhabitants who lived near Camp Para- 
pet must have been some treacherous, be-deviled seces- 
sionists. Ammunition was occasionally stolen, the empty 
boxes afterwards found in places where they had been 
thrown. An attempt was once made by them to cause a 
break in the levee above the fortifications, by removing 
pickets placed to keep the levee embankment from giving 
way. This attempt was discovered before any damage 
resulted, and guards were afterward placed upon the river 
banks to prevent other attempts of a like nature. 

Private Charles E. Warren, who had been an apothecary 
clerk in Boston, was detailed by Captain Leonard to act 
as medical-officer for the two companies. Warren did 
not take the position from any love for the medical profes- 
sion, but did so to advance his personal interest and com- 
fort. He was a social, jolly, good fellow, with a certain 
amount of acquired knowledge how to use medicines, but 
had no diploma as a graduate from any medical institute 
authorizing him to assume the practice of medicine. 

Other details from the enlisted men were made to serve 
in various capacities, viz.: 

Sergeant Frederick C. Blanchard, Company C, acting 
adjutant. 

Sergeant Edward P. Fiske, Company C, acting sergeant- 
major. 

Sergeant Edward L. Jones, Company H, acting commis- 
sary-sergeant. 

Sergeant Dennis A. O'Brien, Company H, wagon-master. 

Private David N. Phipps, Company H, carpenter. 

Corporal William A. Hinds and Private Reuben Smith, 
Company H, clerks in Commissary Department. 

Privates John Davis, Company H, Larry O'Laughlin, 



334 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Company H, James Haley, Company H, Daniel E. 
Demeritt, Company C, Solomon Kennison, Company C, 
and Henry C. Dimond, Company C, overseers of contra- 
bands. Private Henry C. Dimond was also clerk in the 
superintendent's office. 

Corporals Charles E. Loring, Company H, Charles M. 
Harden, Company H, and George H. Smith, Company H, 
clerks in office superintendent of contrabands, Engineer 
Department. 

Private Henry A. Fenner, Company H, orderly to Major 
Houston, United States Engineers. 

Companies C and H contained a queer mixture of men, 
that made it hard to handle them in good shape. No 
other companies in the regiment were like them in their 
personnel. There were good men, with excellent reputa- 
tions at home and from families of high standing ; many 
men whose reputations were known to be bad, taken from 
the rough element of cities and towns, whose faces and 
behavior were enough to stamp them what they were ; 
also many excellent fellows who did their duty manfully, 
though they did come from the ordinary ranks of society. 
This much must be said about the tough characters : fight 
as often and hard as they could among themselves, a fre- 
quent occurrence, whenever an outsider molested any 
comrade belonging to their companies, they came to his 
rescue, and would stand by each other to the last. 

The duty performed by these companies was not ardu- 
ous. It mainly consisted of guard duty and acting as 
overseers to gangs of contrabands at work on the forti- 
fications. There was plenty of this kind of work to keep 
in good order earthworks already finished, change the 
lines of some portions, raze and rebuild other portions, 
cut and haul wood, and, under direction of Mr. Long, 
volunteer United States engineer (the same young officer 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 335 

who was at Galveston), a bastioned redoubt, to form a 
part of the earthwork defences, was commenced January 
30th, and completed before the companies rejoined their 
regiment. 

There were several large contraband camps maintained 
at the Parapet, known as colonies number i, 2, 3, 4 and 
5, the Greenville colony and Brickyard colony. Women 
and children were kept in camps separate from the men. 
These camps received additional negroes brought from 
abandoned plantations by details of men sent up river to 
collect them. A number of men from C and H were 
detailed in various capacities to assist such officers as 
were in command of these negro camps, for they had to 
be governed and fed by the military authorities. 

No guard was kept over these contraband colonies, the 
negroes in them allowed to go and come as they pleased ; 
but over those able-bodied negroes in the engineer camp 
a line of sentinels was placed, whose orders, at first, 
allowed them considerable liberty after their day's work 
was done. A great many had what they called wives, 
who were domiciled in the colonies, and at dusk would go 
to see them, frequently remaining out of camp all night. 
Sometimes they got on a carouse, and made things lively. 
A considerable number would attend the numerous relig- 
ious meetings held every night in the swamps. This 
exodus, at times, was so great that detachments of men 
from Companies C and H, mounted upon mules, would be 
started to hunt them up and bring them into camp, a fact 
Sergeant Meserve well remembers, because on one of 
these night hunts his mule became stubborn, and refused 
to obey the reins or the sergeant, finally landing him upon 
a tree-limb, where he hung until assisted to get down. 

It was thought necessary to have more stringent orders 
than those in force, and by directions from General 



336 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Sumner, Engineer Department, the sentries were ordered 
to shoot any one that attempted to leave without authority 
to do so. Naturally, this created considerable dissatisfac- 
tion among them, especially those who had wives and 
children in other camps. This state of feeling led some 
officers to apprehend acts of insubordination several times, 
and the orders caused an unfortunate affair to happen on 
the evening of April 17th, when a negro man, while attempt- 
ing to creep out of the engineer camp, was detected in the 
ditch and challenged ; not responding, he was shot in the 
back by a sentry from Company H. His wound was an ugly 
one, and he died the next day, after receiving every atten- 
tion that could be given. The negro camp was thrown 
into great excitement by this event, requiring a large force 
of soldiers on the spot before quiet was restored. Many 
officers expressed their indignation at the manner in which 
negroes were restricted and guarded in this camp, as they 
did not consider these strict rules necessary. To get the 
case before a court, where their views could be ventilated, 
Lieutenant White placed the sentry in arrest, insisting that 
he should stand an inquiry into his conduct ; by such 
action he incurred the displeasure of Company H. The 
man was released next day by Captain Leonard, for the 
case was clear that the orders compelled him to fire 
as he did. 

Eleven days later, April 28th, an uproar of voices within 
this same camp alarmed Private Martin, on sentry duty, 
who thought trouble was brewing in the camp and raised 
an alarm, which caused both guard-reliefs to turn out and 
double-quick to the spot, while the rest of the men also 
ran down, some with arms, others without, seizing for 
a weapon anything they could lay hands on, ready 
and willing to fight anybody if their comrades were in 
danger. An investigation showed that the contrabands 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 337 

had built a large bonfire, and were singing around it. 
After these two events no further trouble was given by the 
negroes on engineer duty. 

Thrown in contact with such large numbers of con- 
trabands of both sexes as they were, it would not be 
Companies C and H if the men did not manage to find 
amusement in their surroundings. Perhaps the officers 
could tell a good story in connection with the marriage of 
Captain Bailey's negro servant, an occasion they graced 
with their presence ;, while enlisted men could spin start- 
ling and true tales of pranks they played in these camps 
when off duty. 

First-Sergeant Henry C. Mann, Company C, met with a 
serious and curious misfortune March 26th. It is sur- 
mised he had imbibed freely during the day, a fault com- 
mon to many enlisted men at this camp, and as acting 
officer of the guard slept at night in the guard tent, upon 
the ground, without covering. At daylight he was quite 
sick from a cold thus contracted, and was unable to speak 
above a whisper. Nothing was thought of this at the 
time, as every one supposed upon a recovery from the cold 
his voice would return. It did not, and Sergeant Mann 
was incapacitated from further duty with his company 
during the term of service on account of this infirmity. 
One year after, while walking on Washington Street, 
Boston, Mann was seized with a violent coughing spell, 
and coughed up two pieces of gristle-like matter, when his 
natural voice suddenly returned. Sergeant Mann after- 
I wards served in an unattached heavy artillery company. 
He died from consumption several years ago. 
I Of the officers from the regiment on detached service, 
r Lieutenant White had more adventure than the rest. 
; Immediately after the two companies arrived at Camp 
Parapet he was detailed, by orders from General Banks, 



. 



33^ 

to visit any abandoned plantations he could find within or 
without the Federal lines, gather together what negroes 
he could and bring them to the Parapet to work on the 
fortifications. He usually took from the two companies 
a detail of ten men as a guard, finally reducing this detail 
to seven men, for his own convenience and to obviate 
some difiiculty he had experienced in obtaining rations. 
All of his trips were successful. 

The first trip was made January 17th, and resulted in 
bringing in about four hundred on the nineteenth. The 
second trip was made on the twenty-seventh, when about 
six hundred were obtained and brought in January 30th. 
The third and last trip was made early in February to 
Donaldsonville and below. The detail for this trip con- 
sisted of : Corporal Augustus H. Young, Privates Elbridge 
G. Martin, Jr., Cornelius Dougherty, and Francis Droll, 
Company C ; Sergeant Joseph J. Whitney, Company 
H ; Private George H. Brown, Company C ; and John 
Scroder, a Boston boy, who had been servant to Cap- 
tain Leonard. 

Complaints had been made by old resident planters in 
the parish, who remained to work their plantations, that 
many negroes were gathered on the plantations commit- 
ting depredations. Major W. O. Fiske, First Louisiana 
Infantry (white troops), suggested to Lieutenant White 
that a trip to those plantations be made, and he would be 
able to get together a considerable number of negroes to 
bring down ; by so doing benefit the planters, if they told 
the truth in their complaint, and also the Government. 
Caution was to be exercised, however, as the major did 
not fully believe the planters wished to have these negroes 
disturbed, as they had work for them to do upon the plan- 
tations. What occurred on the trip would seem to prove 
this view of the case was correct. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 339 

There was a detachment of thirty men, under a lieu- 
tenant from the One Hundred and Tenth New York, 
stationed at Magnolia Plantation, in St. John Parish, for 
what purpose Major Fiske said he did not understand, but 
did know this officer was having a fine time there and 
was on good terms with the planters, a fact that would 
make it probable he could not be counted on to render 
any assistance. This proved to be so. 

Taking a river boat White and his men arrived at a 
landing two miles below this plantation about ten o'clock 
at night. On visiting this lieutenant a pleasant evening 
was passed without any mention made of the business in 
hand. Quarters were furnished for the night. Early next 
morning Lieutenant White, in company of the New York 
officer, made a round of adjacent plantations to look over 
the ground carefully. Upon their return White explained 
what he was after, when the lieutenant stated his position : 
he was pleasantly situated, well treated, on good terms 
with the inhabitants, and did not feel like doing a thing 
to disturb his pleasant life. Lieutenant White at once 
made up his mind the work must be done without assist- 
ance. He quietly gathered his men together and informed 
them there was considerable work to do, with a hint how 
easier it was to ride than to walk, then left them for the 
night. After breakfast, next morning, when he reached 
the place where his men quartered, he found seven horses 
ready, bridled and saddled. To his inquiry : " What does 
this mean ? " one of the men replied : '^ It is White's 
cavalry." As he said it was easier to ride than walk, his 
men acted on the suggestion and equipped themselves in 
the night. Without difficulty he procured a mount for 
himself and proceeded to make a tour of the surrounding 
plantations, collect the negroes together, and explain what 
he wanted to do with them. They received the intelli- 



340 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

gence with delight, and were told to bring all of their 
effects and families with them, occupy a large storehouse 
situated by the river bank, where they could live until he 
could take them down river. They came in large numbers. 

White left two men to look after matters at the store- 
house, with instructions how to find him in case of need, 
and with five men started upon another tour on the suc- 
ceeding day. While absent, a civilian provost-marshal, 
named Marmillon, or calling himself by that name, rode 
up to the storehouse, accompanied by a squad of hard- 
looking characters, fully armed, and demanded to see the 
lieutenant in charge. Word was despatched to White, who 
returned and confronted the gang. After some parley, 
Marmillon demanded that the detail should get out of the 
parish ; said they had no business there ; that he had 
orders of a later date than White's instructions, which 
stated that all officers on such detailed duty as his should 
cease their operations and forthwith join their commands, 
insisting that White should read the orders, which he 
refused to do in a positive manner, but informed Marmillon 
no such orders had been received by him, furthermore, 
he could not receive them through him as official, and 
that he was on a service he meant to put through to the 
best of his ability. 

The following orders were all that Marmillon could 
have had at the time, issued from headquarters of the. 
Department, viz. : a circular of February i6th, 1863, which 
explained a system of labor adopted for the year in utiliz- 
ing unemployed negroes, and General Orders No. 17, 
issued February i8th, 1863, that reads: "No negroes will 
be taken from the plantations until further orders, by any 
officer or other person in the service of the United States, 
without previous authority from these headquarters." 

While the conversation was at its height, with sharp 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 34I 

questions and answers upon both sides, the men of 
" White's cavalry " became uneasy and were ready for a 
fight, intimating to Lieutenant White their desire to 
"clean out" the provost-marshal's gang. They were held 
in check, until finally Lieutenant White notified Marmillon 
it was of no use to talk further about the matter, he did 
not intend to leave the parish and should not, but the 
best thing he (Marmillon) could do was to get out himself 
with his crowd of scallywag cut-throats, about as rascally 
a set of men as he ever saw, for his own men were a little 
excited, and if he did not clear out he would not hold 
himself responsible for the consequences. This appeared 
to settle the matter, for the provost-marshal and his men 
went away saying they would be heard from again. That 
night Marmillon, or somebody, sent to Lieutenant White 
a threatening letter, with peremptory orders to leave 
the parish. 

The negroes were attentive listeners to all that passed 
between the two parties. During the evening one of them 
quietly asked White to go with him to the storehouse, 
where he found these negroes had made a barricade, with 
their bedding, baggage, and sundry traps of all kinds, on 
the three sides approached by land (the fourth side was 
on the water front), so as to make the building almost 
bullet proof. In the vicinity were about two hundred 
negroes, armed with long sugar-cane knives, very excited 
and full of fight. They said, let the provost-marshal and 

I his gang make an attempt to use force and they would 
wipe them out of existence. 

The situation was not pleasant to contemplate, not 

! knowing what Marmillon with his men would attempt to 
do, and they could not get away. Repeated attempts to 

i stop boats on the river were failures. The boats hug the 

: east bank as though they feared some trick was attempted 



342 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

upon them. This uncertain state of affairs continued for 
several days without interference from any quarter, White 
and his men in the saddle most of the time, raiding around 
to prevent any attempt to surprise them. Finally Lieu- 
tenant White and Corporal Young seized a horse and 
wagon, drove to Donaldsonville and, by pluck combined 
with CHEEK, compelled a steamer bound down river to 
land at the storehouse and take the negroes on board. 
They were landed at the Parapet and turned over to the 
proper officers. This detail was absent about thirteen 
days, unable all that time to communicate with Captain 
Leonard, who thought the party had been captured by 
the enemy. 

Several other short trips after negroes were made at 
various times by Lieutenants Phillips and Sanderson with- 
out any trouble while performing that duty. 

Preliminary steps were taken in March towards enlist- 
ing from the negro camps a sufficient number of men to 
organize the First Regiment Louisiana Engineers, to form 
a part of the " Corps d' Afrique," then under considera- 
tion, and later on ordered to be organized as proposed in 
General Orders No. 40, from headquarters Nineteenth 
Army Corps, issued May ist, 1863, at Opelousas. In 
those orders Major-General Banks proposed to organize a 
co7^ps d' ar77iee of colored troops, to consist ultimately 
of eighteen regiments, representing all arms — infantry, 
artillery and cavalry — organized in three divisions of 
three brigades each, with appropriate corps of engineers, 
and flying hospitals to each division. 

Considering the character and standing of many men 
who received commissions in these regiments the follow- 
ing part of General Orders No. 40 sounds like lmnco7?ibe. 
The extract is as follows : 

" In the field the efficiency of every corps depends 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 343 

upon the influence of its officers upon the troops engaged, 
and the practicable limits of one direct command is gener- 
ally estimated at one thousand men. The most eminent 
military historians and commanders, among others Thiers 
and Chambray, express the opinion, upon a full review 
of the elements of military power, that the valor of the 
soldier is rather acquired than natural. Nations whose 
individual heroism is undisputed have failed as soldiers in 
the field. The European and American continents exhibit 
instances of this character, and the military prowess of 
every nation may be estimated by the centuries it has 
devoted to military contest, or the traditional passion of 
its people for military glory. With a race unaccustomed 
to military service, much more depends on the immediate 
influence of officers ujDon individual members than with 
those that have acquired more or less of warlike habits 
and spirit by centuries of contest. It is deemed best, 
therefore, in the organization of the Corps d' Afrique to 
limit the regiments to the smallest number of men con- 
sistent w^ith efficient service in the field, in order to secure 
the most thorough instruction and discipline, and the 
largest influence of the officers over the troops. At first 
they will be limited to five hundred men. The average of 
American regiments is less than that number. 

* # * * * 

The chief defect in organizations of this character has 
arisen from incorrect ideas of the officers in command. 
Their discipline has been lax, and in some cases the con- 
duct of the regiments unsatisfactory and discreditable. 
Controversies unnecessary and injurious to the service 
have arisen between them and other troops. The organi- 
zation proposed will reconcile and avoid many of these 
troubles." 

The First Louisiana Engineers comprised twelve com- 



'344 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

panics of sixty-five men each, in three battalions, under 
command of Colonel Justin Hodge, U. S. A. This regi- 
ment was conceived in the following manner : all negroes 
employed at work upon the fortifications were in a camp 
by themselves, styled " the engineer camp." These negroes 
were organized into gangs of one hundred and twenty-five 
men each, commanded by two enlisted men from Com- 
panies C and H, each gang numbered one, two, three and 
so on, the same as companies in a regiment. The gangs 
were further subdivided into squads of twenty-five men, 
commanded by the most intelligent negro to be found. 
Before recruiting for this regiment was thought of, acting 
under orders these gangs were often drilled in marching, 
the facings, and other exercises without arms, by the 
detailed men who commanded them. Contrary to expec- 
tation, they took a great interest in these drills and 
improved rapidly, manifesting considerable intelligence for- 
slaves, one reason why it was easy work to handle them, for 
they obeyed all orders without causing trouble, accustomed 
as they had been to doing so for their late masters. 

Opinions difi:er in regard to whether the negroes enlisted 
of their own free will, fully understanding what they were 
about, when this regiment was determined upon. Lieutenant 
White says, that the two companies taken by him to Bra- 
shear City were sent away in a hurry, and the manner in 
which they were mustered into the service was this : the 
men were drawn up in line, when a German officer, who 
spoke poor English, said something to them that White 
could not understand, though he stood near him, and then 
declared the two companies mustered into service. These 
negroes afterwards asked what had been going on, and 
appeared ignorant of the nature of the ceremony. No 
enlistment papers had been made out or signed that White 
ever knew. On the other hand, soldiers who were engaged 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 345 

in recruiting for this regiment say, that the men signed 
enlistment rolls, nearly all by affixing their mark, and that 
they fully understood what was wanted of them, enlisting 
of their own free will. This is probably true so far as 
other companies than the first two are concerned. At all 
events, it is a fact, none of them ever protested against 
their enlistment, or mode of muster in, and were wonder- 
fully tickled at the idea of becoming soldiers, proud to 
belong to the "machinery department," as they termed it, 
in their ignorance supposing as a matter of course any- 
body called an engineer must have something to do with 
machinery in some manner. 

After passing an examination early in April, the follow- 
ing men of the Forty-Second were appointed officers in 
this engineer regiment, and received their commissions a 
month later, viz. : 

Sergeant Moses Washburn, Company C, to be captain. 
Commissioned May 23d. 

Sergeant Frederick C. Blanchard, Company C, to be 
captain. Commissioned May 23d. 

Private William E. Melvin, Company C, to be captain. 
Commissioned May 23d. 

Sergeant Edward L. Jones, Company H, to be captain. 
Commissioned May 23d. 

Sergeant Samuel H. Everett, Company H, to be captain. 
Commissioned May 23d. 

Sergeant John G. Meserve, Company C, to be first-lieu- 
tenant. Commissioned May 21st. 

Corporal Joseph McField, Company C, to be first-lieu- 
tenant. Commissioned May 21st. 

Sergeant James G. Hill, Company K, to be first-lieu- 
tenant. Commissioned March 27th. 

Sergeant William H. Shepard, Company K, to be 
second-lieutenant. Commissioned March 27th. 



346 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Corporal Augustus H. Young, Company C, to be second- 
lieutenant. Commissioned May 21st. 

Private Edwin G. Sanborn, Company C, to be second- 
lieutenant. Commissioned May 23d. 

Private Charles E. Warren, Company C, made assistant- 
surgeon, June 24th. 

Private George F. Clark, Company C, appointed quarter- 
master-sergeant, June 26th. 

Other men in Companies C and H had commissions 
tendered to them, which they declined for personal rea- 
sons. Some of the above-mentioned promotions were 
good — men adapted to carry out the spirit of Major- 
General Banks' order. 

An expedition made February 12th by the Third Divi- 
sion down Plaquemine Bayou, for the purpose of capturing 
Butte a la Rose, at the head of Grand Lake, was obliged 
to abandon the attempt on account of timber drifts in the 
swollen bayous, that made a passage through them imprac- 
ticable, and returned February 19th. Lieutenant Swift, 
Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts, had got an idea into his 
head that he could, with a proper force, remove the 
greatest obstacle encountered by the Third Division : a 
completely-packed drift of wood like a raft, about three 
miles long, situated at the upper end of Bayou Sorrel, in 
St. Martins and Iberville Parishes, a narrow sheet of 
water about nine miles long. Swift had received permis- 
sion, with orders from General Banks, to attempt it. 

In winter months it had been the custom for light-draft 
river boats to make a short cut from Berwick Bay by way 
of Grand Lake, Lake Chilot, Bayou Sorrel, the Atcha- 
falaya River, and Bayou Plaquemine to the Mississippi 
River. In summer months this route is almost dry in 
places, and not navigable for local boats. From Brashear 
City, via Grand Lake, to Lake Chilot is about thirty miles ; 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 347 

Lake Chilot to Ba3'ou Sorrel, about eight miles ; through 
Bayou Sorrel, nine miles ; and from Bayou Sorrel to 
Plaquemine, upon the Mississippi, is about twelve miles. 

On April 26th, at the earnest request of Colonel 
Hodge, Lieutenant White consented to take command 
of two companies, about one hundred and thirty men, 
from the colored engineer regiment, under orders to 
proceed to Brashear City to assist Lieutenant Swift in 
his project. 

The officers in command of these two companies were : 
Captain Samuel H. Everett, Captain William E. Melvin, 
Acting Lieutenant David C. Smith and Acting Lieutenant 
James S. Lovejoy, from Company C, Forty-Second Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, Acting Lieutenant Purrington, 

from Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and Acting Lieutenant 
McCown, a clerk to "Colonel Hodge. 

At Brashear City the expedition had to remain some 
three weeks, until suitable steamers could be furnished 
from boats in use by the army, then advancing up the 
Teche. Two small tug boats and two barges were finally 
provided, with all the equipment and rations supposed to 
be sufficient for the time it would occupy, calculated by 
Lieutenant Swift to be ten days. A start was made about 
May 20th. No surgeon was detailed or medicines provided, 
although an attempt was made to obtain both in Brashear 
City. The post hospital officers refused to do anything in 
the absence of direct orders to do so, although White had 
a personal request from General Banks to get a couple 
of panniers, with a full set of surgical instruments and 
medicines. The bags were obtained, but no instruments 
and but few medicines. Lieutenant Swift had with him 
a detail of thirty men. Twelfth Maine Infantry, all prac- 
tical river lumber drivers. He did not conceal his opinion, 
that the negro troops were of no use to him in this scheme. 



348 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

and that the men from the Twelfth Maine would make 
short work of the obstacle. 

On arrival at Bayou Sorrel, where they were attacked 
the first night by guerillas, they went to work with a will 
for some days, sending the logs right and left floating 
down towards Lake Chilot, where they again collected 
together to form a formidable obstacle in their rear, and 
before they were aware of it they were caught between 
the obstructions ; they could not go ahead or go back. 
The weather was extremely hot, with mosquitos and flies 
terribly annoying, and before many days Lieutenant Swift 
was obliged to call upon Lieutenant White to assist him 
with the negro troops. 

The expedition lay in this bayou between three to four 
weeks, the water falling steadily until there were places in 
their rear fordable over sand bars. The men sickened 
rapidly, measles appeared, and all of the Maine detach- 
ment, except five or six men, were on the sick list unfit for 
duty. Fortunately none died. About sixty-five of the 
negro detachment were also sick and unfit for duty; seven 
of them died. Provisions ran short. The few inhabitants 
in the vicinity gave information that the Confederates 
were operating around their rear to cut them off, not 
expecting they could get through in front and must eventu- 
ally abandon the boats to try and work back by land 
towards Brashear. 

In this emergency Swift appealed to White for a trust 
worthy man to go to Brashear City for provisions, and arms 
for the negro companies. Acting Lieutenant McCown was 
selected, who, with two negroes, managed by travelling at 
night to work their way back to Brashear, where they' 
obtained provisions, also forty muskets, without bayonets 
or ammunition, and brought them up upon a small steamer. 

Work was pushed day and night by all of the available 



i 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 349 

hands to break through the obstacle in front, as it had 
become impossible to work back. This was at last accom- 
plished, and with a clear passage beyond this obstacle the 
steamers were rushed through to the Mississippi, reaching 
that river late in the afternoon of June 19th, and the men 
were landed on the east bank, opposite Plaquemine. 

One boat struck a snag while entering the Mississippi 
and sank in water almost up to her deck cabin ; all hands, 
except the captain with a few of the crew, were taken on 
board other boats. Next morning Confederate soldiers 
appeared on the river bank and captured those who 
remained upon the wreck. It was afterwards ascertained 
that a force of about two thousand cavalry reached a 
point on the Bayou Plaquemine very soon after the expe- 
dition had passed, to find they were too late, when they 
pushed for Plaquemine Town, capturing the small force 
stationed there, burning the hospital building, and com- 
mitting other acts of vandalism. 

At the season of the year it was undertaken this expe- 
dition was a farce. Had an intelligent officer first made 
proper inquiries to ascertain the true state of that line 
of water course, when it was navigable and when not, 
the probabilities are that the expedition would not have 
started. 

Lieutenant White, Acting Lieutenants Smith and Lovejoy 
proceeded immediately to the regimental hospital at Bayou 
Gentilly, sick with fever, and for a time it was doubtful 
whether they would recover. The two companies went to 
Port Hudson to rejoin their regiment. 

The First Louisiana Engineers received orders to pro- 
ceed to Baton Rouge May 20th, with General Neal Dow's 
brigade. The brigade passed up river May 21st; on the 
twenty-second the engineer regiment had its first dress 
parade, with music furnished by the Forty-Seventh Mas- 



35 O HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

sachusetts regimental band, that regiment having arrived 
at the Parapet a few days before. Without arms, clothed 
in straw hats and uncouth clothing (regulation uniforms 
had not been issued), this regiment made an appearance 
that agreeably disappointed the military spectator. 

On Sunday, May 24th, camp was struck, transports 
taken, and the First Louisiana passed up the river for 
Port Hudson, where it did some hard work, received well- 
merited praise for duty actually performed, and praise 
for what it did not do. At Port Hudson this regiment 
did about all of the engineer hard labor of the army, 
divided into detachments to cover the whole Federal front 
(about five miles), to throw up temporary fortifications, dig 
approaches and mines. On the extreme left a work for 
twenty-one guns was made by these colored troops. In 
the first assault this regiment carried fascines to fill the 
ditch, and to their credit it must be said they ran forward, 
threw them in helter-skelter, expecting to receive the 
enemy's fire every moment. The enemy did not fire on 
them (that was reserved for the assaulting columns of white 
troops), and they got back without loss. During this 
siege the regiment was as much under fire every day as 
any white regiment, suffered a loss of about seventy men, 
and displayed good pluck for untrained men. 

While convalescent. Lieutenant White, disregarding the 
advice of Surgeon Heintzelman, returned to his company 
in New Orleans the last of June. From there he started 
for Port Hudson to report to Colonel Hodge. At Spring- 
field Landing, the base of supplies for the army, an attack 
was made on the post July 2d, by a raiding party of Con- 
federate cavalry, just as a party, including Lieutenant 
White, were about to start in a sutler's wagon for Port 
Hudson, seven miles distant. 

The Confederates dashed through a force of some 



■ MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 35 1 

ninety men from a New York regiment on duty at the 
landing, and then divided into squads. One of these 
squads rode down to the river bank where White, with a 
dozen other men, had taken refuge in an old trading boat. 
After discharging a few volleys, from the saddle, they rode 
away. They did not dare to dismount, because a sharp 
musketry-fire was springing up behind them from the New 
York infantry-men, who rallied, behind shelter, by twos 
and fours, as they saw a chance, until they drove the 
Confederates away, after a half hour's skirmish, and before 
the Thirtieth Massachusetts, ordered down from Port Hud- 
son, could intercept them. 

From the boat Lieutenant White witnessed the capture 
of his old companion. Lieutenant Swift, by a Confederate 
squad who rode up to look inside a tent occupied by 
Swift a few moments before busily engaged in writing, 
and who had hid, with two men, in bushes close by. They 
would have been safe had not one of the men incautiously 
looked out to see what was going on and been seen by the 
enemy, who ordered them put and made them prisoners. 

Lieutenant White was relieved from duty with the engi- 
neer troops July 7th, to rejoin his company. 

To sum up what these two companies did is to say that 
they done their duty well. They were once, April 24th, 
under orders for Port Hudson, and held in readiness for 
two days to proceed there ; the nearest they ever came to 
going into active field service. 

June 5th, Companies C and H were relieved from duty 
in the Engineer Department, and marched seven miles 
to Bayou Gentilly, accompanied by the regimental band 
(sent them at the request of Captain Leonard), and 
rejoined the regiment. 



352 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER XV. 

Company K in Charge of Pontoons — Baton Rouge — 
Teche Campaign — Siege of Port Hudson — Donald- 
soNviLLE — Return to Regiment. 

COMPANY K, under command of Lieutenant Henry 
A. Harding, a talented young officer, twenty-one 
years old, in obedience to Division Special Orders No. 51, 
issued February i6th, proceeded to New Orleans on the 
eighteenth from Gentilly Camp, and reported to Major 
Houston for duty in the engineer service. Quarters were 
assigned in Shippers' cotton press, already partially occu- 
pied by the Twenty-Sixth New York Battery, one hundred 
and fifty men, eight brass guns and one hundred and ten 
horses. This battery remained at the cotton press until 
March 8th, the two commands fraternizing without any 
trouble. 

Company K was ordered to take charge of the pontoon 
train. The pontoons, in two sizes, were made of rubber, 
inflated with air by hand bellows in lieu of air pumps, 
when all ready for use. Such miscellaneous articles as 
planks, guy ropes, oars, etc., occupied a large amount of 
space. Thirty wagons, drawn by four mules to each 
wagon, were used to transport this bridge and material. 
Negroes were employed as drivers, "bossed" by a large, 
powerful Irishman called " Big Slattery." Slattery was a 
bully, always ready to curse and whip his negro drivers. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 353 

His brutality assumed such proportions men of Company 
K had to interfere and put a stop to it. The company 
wagoner, in charge of the wagon used to convey company 
property, was Private Jotham E. Bigelow, until Wagoner 
Porter Carter was ordered to join his company. 

At first sight the men made up their minds they were to 
see hard service in handling this cumbersome, clumsy- 
looking pontoon bridge. To bridge a river or bayou the 
requisite number of pontoons were inflated by hand- 
bellows, then launched and placed in position, afterwards 
planked, and fastened by ropes to remain steady. Com- 
pany K had eighty men for this duty, until sickness and 
death gradually reduced the number to about fifty. They 
learned how to handle the pontoons without instruction 
from an engineer ofTficer, by practice drills with sections 
of the bridge, and gained much valuable knowledge of the 
property confided to their care by odd jobs of necessary 
work done to have everything in complete order. 

Two accidents happened that, for a short time in March, 
left the company without a commissioned ofhcer. Lieu- 
tenant Harding, kicked by a horse about a week previous, 
had to go into hospital March ist, on account of the 
injury. In the afternoon Lieutenant Gorham was thrown, 
his horse fell upon him, and he was insensible until taken 
to the St. James Hospital next day. He returned to duty 
March 9th, in season to command the company ordered 
to Baton Rouge with the pontoons on March loth. They 
went up river upon the steamer Eastern Queen and arrived 
at Baton Rouge March nth at three o'clock p.m, going 
into camp about half a mile from the river. 

All signs pointed to a forward movement by the large 
body of troops massed at this place, commanded by 
General Banks in person. Great activity was observed 
on board naval vessels, which caused the men to under- 



354 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Stand they were about to do active field duty and gain 
some practical knowledge how to use pontoon bridges 
for service. Early on the twelfth the pontoon train was 
marched to Bayou Montesino, five miles from Baton Rouge, 
and the men commenced to throw a bridge seventy-seven 
feet long across this bayou. Picket lines were established 
some two miles in front until next morning, when the 
Fort3^-Eighth Massachusetts and Second Louisiana Infan- 
try, with unattached Massachusetts cavalry companies, 
commanded by Captains Godfrey and Magee, were sent 
up river on transports to Springfield Landing, proceeding 
to the junction of' Springfield Landing and Bayou Sara 
roads, driving in Confederate pickets and clearing the 
roads down to where the bridge was thrown. At night, 
work was suspended, but Company K kept on the alert, as 
pickets were firing throughout the night and alarms fre- 
quent ; the men were formed into line three times, ready 
for a defence of the bridge. By noon of the thirteenth 
all was made ready, and at night troops commenced to 
cross on the advance towards Port Hudson. 

The men remained on duty at their bridge until the 
seventeenth, with the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts Infantry 
on guard for a part of the time, witnessing the constant 
movement of troops, accompanied by baggage trains, and 
listening to the guns from the fleet while Admiral Farragut 
succeeded in pushing two gunboats past Port Hudson 
batteries March T4th. The retrograde march towards 
Baton Rouge commenced on the fifteenth, a rainy day, 
and on the seventeenth Company K commenced to take 
up, load their bridge upon wagons and go in the same 
direction, ordered to accompany the Third Brigade, First 
Division, Colonel N. A. M. Dudley in command, under 
orders to reconnoitre the west bank of the river. 

On the eighteenth teams went to the levee and remained 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 355 

until five a.m. the next day (all hands sleeping upon the 
levee), when they embarked on the Sallie Robmson and 
proceeded to within five miles of Port Hudson, landing 
in the afternoon at Hunter's Plantation. The brigade for- 
aged, scouted, and opened communication with Farragut, 
while naval vessels below Port Hudson kept the Confed- 
erate steamers well under the protection of their own 
forts. Without having to make any use of the pontoons, 
the brigade returned to Baton Rouge on the afternoon of 
March 2 2d, and Company K left the next day, still upon 
the Sallie Robmso7i, for New Orleans, where they arrived 
on the twenty-fourth at four p.m., and marched imme- 
diately, with their train, to Shippers' Cotton Press. Several 
men were taken sick from exposure to damp atmosphere 
at night, which almost penetrated their blankets as they 
slept ujDon the river bank. 

For two weeks the company was kept busy in making 
alterations in the pontoons, found necessary during the 
short service they had seen, preparatory to moving with 
the army, about to commence a campaign in Western 
Louisiana towards Red River. 

Hospital-Steward Charles J. Wood was detached from 
the regiment March 31st, by Department special orders, 
and joined April 3d, to act as medical-officer. First-Ser- 
geant J. Gilbert Hill and Sergeant William H. Shepard 
were detached, by Department special orders, March 26th, 
and ordered to Baton Rouge to report to Captain Justin 
Hodge, assistant-quartermaster, on recruiting service for 
the First Louisiana Engineers, colored troops. They after- 
wards received commissions as first- and second-lieutenants. 
The following sick men were sent to hospitals : Sergeant 
George L. Johnson to St. James Hospital in New Orleans ; 
Privates W. J. Bacon, C. B. Bacon, Samuel Johnson and 
S. M. Stafford to the regimental hospital at Gentilly Bayou. 



356 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Preliminary movements of troops were in progress as 
follows : the Second Brigade, First Division, under Gen- 
eral Weitzel, had advanced to Brashear City from Bayou 
Bceuff April 2d; the Third and Fourth Divisions were 
en-route from Baton Rouge by transports to Algiers, thence 
by rail, a portion marching from Donaldsonville via Thi- 
bodeaux, when orders were received by Company K, April 
5th, to move with the pontoons. At eight o'clock p.m. 
next day, the detachment took cars at Algiers for Brashear 
City, where they arrived early next morning. The bridge 
was unloaded, piled compactly near the track, and tents 
pitched close at hand. 

Weitzel's brigade was transported across the river to 
Berwick on the ninth, and the Third Division followed as 
fast as limited facilities at hand would admit, occupying 
two days in crossing. The bridge was put together about 
a mile from camp, below the city, on the ninth, using all of 
the material, that made a bridge two hundred and eighty- 
seven and ten-twelfths feet long. This took an entire day, 
and completely tired out everybody. Next day an attempt 
was made to tow this pontoon bridge to Bayou Teche, but 
the tide proved too strong for a tug-boat, and the steamer 
St. Mary's was called on to render assistance, and then the 
Sykes had to assist before it could be moved and brought 
up to the railroad wharf at Brashear. This day was lost. 
The Sykes, at two p.m. on the eleventh, took the bridge in 
tow, with all hands upon it, bound for Pattersonville, three 
miles above Brashear. After a hard pull, obliged once to 
make fast to the shore, the bridge reached Pattersonville 
in the evening and remained all night. The men remained 
upon it, in readiness to obey any orders. On the twelfth 
the bridge was thrown across the bayou, and one infantry 
regiment, one cavalry company and five artillery guns 
crossed over. While at work Company K was fired on, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 357 

and seven men were thrown forward to ascertain if a force 
was in the vicinity ; a small guard was found, who beat a 
hasty retreat. Lieutenant Harding, with a boat's crew, 
went up river at night for orders ; Lieutenant Gorham, left 
in command, tried to execute an order to bring up the 
bridge to a spot about three miles from his position, where 
a bridge was destroyed by the enemy, but the captains of 
steamers Sykes and Smith thought it unsafe to try it, and 
the bridge was not towed up until next day, the thirteenth, 
when it was placed in position about three-quarters of a 
mile from the battle-field. Gorham was placed in arrest 
by Major Houston for the delay, and released and ordered 
to duty on the fifteenth, as it was not his fault. 

The Third (Emory's) Division, the Second (Weitzel's) 
Brigade, First Division, advanced to Pattersonville, threw 
out pickets, and went into bivouac on the eleventh. The 
enemy was posted behind breastworks on the Bisland 
Plantation, about four miles above Pattersonville. On 
their left were six hundred men, with six guns, defending 
the ground from Grand Lake to the bayou. The gunboat 
Diana defended the bayou main road, and there were two 
24 Pr. guns in position upon the bank, on their right, to 
assist the Diana. Sixteen hundred men, with twelve 
guns, held the line of their right to a railway embankment, 
where General Green was posted with his dismounted men. 

After this position was reconnoitred on the twelfth, with 
skirmishing and considerable artillery firing in the after- 
noon, an advance on the enemy was made about ten a.m. 
April 13th, by a strong line of skirmishers, supported by 
artillery. No attempt was made to assault. This move- 
ment on the enemy was evidently made to occupy their 
attention until Grover's division could gain the roads in 
their rear at Franklin. At noon the gunboat Cliftofi 
pushed up river to aid the troops, until she ran afoul of a 



353 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

torpedo. For fear of being blown up by these machines, 
she anchored until afternoon, and then commenced to throw- 
shot and shell dangerously near the Federal troops. This 
was soon stopped, for the Clifton was not in a proper place 
to render any service. The bridge was in constant use 
during the day, soldiers and ambulances crossing and 
recrossing. The company remained under arms, on guard, 
until the fourteenth, squads of men going up river in small 
boats to witness the army movements on the twelfth and 
thirteenth, collect small boats and carry orders. The enemy 
.retreated to Franklin on the fourteenth, after destroying 
their one gunboat on the bayou (the Diana), to escape a 
threatened rear attack by Grover's fourth division, that 
had by way of Grand Lake, on transports, effected a 
landing with difficulty near Hutchin's Point, not far from 
Franklin, and advanced to the Bayou Teche. 

In this first Western Louisiana campaign the pontoons 
did not see much service. Bridges over the small water- 
courses General Taylor attempted to burn or otherwise 
destroy were repaired without difficulty, as the pursuit was 
close enough to prevent much destruction. A great flood 
existed, but saving the bridges obviated a call for use 
of pontoon-sections. The labor done by Company K 
was not heavy, but kept them constantly at work on the 
river for ten days, exposed at night to foul air and bad vapor 
from swamps. This exposure caused a large proportion 
of the men to be taken sick. Serious cases were sent to 
post hospitals at Berwick Bay, a portion distributed among 
hospitals in New Orleans, and those who could travel were 
sent to Bayou Gentilly. 

The company proceeded to Franklin, April 14th, upon 
the Sykes, with gunboat Clifton for an escort, leaving their 
bridge where it was in position, with a detachment on 
guard. From Franklin the men were kept moving down 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 359 

and up the river, on the lookout for torpedoes, and at work 
to try and remove the wreck of the Confederate gunboat 
Cotton^ blown up by the enemy in January, obstructing free 
navigation where she sunk. Plenty of opportunities were 
found to go ashore on foraging expeditions. 

Orders were received on the twenty-third to join the 
army, well on its way towards Opelousas. Small boats 
took the men down to where their pontoon bridge lay, 
when it was taken in tow for Brashear City, and arrived 
there in the afternoon. The bridge was taken up on the 
twent3^-fifth, loaded upon wagons, and transported on the 
steamer G. A. Sheldon, that left Brashear City on the 
twenty-sixth for Barre's Landing, via Grand Lake, the 
Atchafalaya and the Cahawba Rivers, stopping at Butte 
a-la-Rose to leave supplies for the gunboat Calhoim. On 
arrival at Barre's Landing on the twenty-eighth, wagons 
were sent ashore and the command went into camp. 
Bustle and excitement ruled the hours. A large amount 
of cotton kept coming in to the army, and was stored or 
shipped by steamers to Brashear. 

From exposure upon the bayou Lieutenant Harding 
became sick with malarial fever, that forced him to leave 
his company April 21st and return to the regimental hos- 
pital for treatment. The command fell on Lieutenant 
Gorham, who was not equal to the task. With a weakness 
for liquor he could not control, this one fault completely 
unfitted him for such a position as he held. He was repri- 
manded once by a general officer, who noticed he was 
inebriated while on duty and cautioned him not to repeat 
the offence. Gorham failed to obey the caution, was found 
by the rear guard in a state of intoxication at a rebel's 
house on Carnell's Plantation, and at Alexandria, May 
9th, was placed in arrest. Captain Smith, First Louisiana 
Engineers, was placed in command of Company K until 



360 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Lieutenant Harding should rejoin. The option was given 
Lieutenant Gorham to resign or stand trial by court- 
martial. He chose the former, and was discharged from 
the service of the United States by Department Special 
Orders No. 115, issued May 13th. 

General orders were issued to prevent straggling and 
pillage. As these orders were not promulgated to Com- 
pany K, and many men never heard read General Orders 
No. 29, it is here given : 

" Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, 
" 19TH Army Corps, 

^'Opelousas, April 21st, 1863. 
"General Orders No. 29. 

" The exigencies of the service, and safety of the troops, 
imperatively demand that the disposable force of the corps 
shall march in column, except where necessary detach- 
ments upon special duty are ordered by superior officers. 
The desertion of the column upon the march, or strag- 
gling, for the purposes of pillage and plunder, is an 
offence made punishable with death by the Articles of 
War. The honor of the flag, and the safety of the men 
who faithfully discharge their duty, demand that this law 
be enforced ; and the commanding general gives notice, 
absolute and positive, that this punishment will be exe- 
cuted upon those men, of whatever command, who violate 
the army regulations and dishonor the service by inex- 
cusable and attrocious acts of this kind. All officers, of 
whatever grade, who shall allow the men under their 
respective commands to leave the line of march or the 
camp, without authority, will be summarily and dishonora- 
bly discharged the service, as unworthy to participate in 
the triumphant march of this column. The army is now 
hundreds of miles from its base of operations, in the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 36 1 

enemy's country. The campaign may be made one of the 
most creditable of the war, or it may disgrace the troops 
and dishonor the country. The commanding general 
appeals to officers and men to reflect upon their position, 
to consider their duties, and faithfully to discharge the 
obligations which rest upon them, and is, for himself, 
determined to execute the severest sentence of military 
law upon those who basely betray the service and dishonor 
their country in this regard. Whatever property may be 
necessary for the support of the arm}'-, or may be prosti- 
tuted to support the rebellion, will be taken by the Gov- 
ernment, and due reparation will be made therefor. But 
we do not war upon women and children, however much 
and in whatever way they may have erred. Our contest 
is with the men and the armies of the rebellion. 

" Information has been received at these headquarters 
that the Jives of officers as well as of the men of the line 
have been endangered by the unauthorized and criminal 
discharge of firearms by persons engaged in pillage. 
Notice is given to all officers and soldiers that the parties 
engaged in these practices will be held responsible for 
the consequences of their acts, and that such offences will 
be punished with the severest penalties prescribed by the 
Articles of War. This order is not a matter of form, but 
will be rigidly enforced during the campaign. 

" Officers in every division, brigade and regiment of this 
command are directed to place a rear-guard for the pur- 
pose of preventing stragglers from falling to the rear of 
the column. Where men are sick or foot-sore, upon the 
certificate of the surgeon, they will be allowed such con- 
veyance or provided with such hospital accommodations 
as their situation may require. The captured straggler is 
the best source of information that the enemy possesses. 
A soldier who deserts his column in the face of the enemy 



362 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

will not hesitate to betray his comrades, and deserves the 
penalty which the law provides for his great wrong. 
'^ By command of 

"MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS. 
"Richard B. Irwin, 

" Assistant Adjutaiit- General. ^^ 

Several men of Company K got permission of Sergeant 
Johnson to forage, and went down the river on the twenty- 
eighth for the express purpose of pillage and plunder, 
returning next day with silver spoons and jewelry they had 
taken fi^m a dwelling, whose owner promptly reported 
this case of burglary to General Grover. Lieutenant 
Gorham was ordered to parade his company in front of 
Grover's headquarters, where the property owner indenti- 
fied Sergeant Baker, Corporal Bates, Privates E. G. Bacon, 
Luke Bowker, A. J. Thayer, E. M, Thayer and James 
Mins as connected with this affair. They were placed in 
arrest, sent to Algiers, and confined for twenty days before 
released from their dilemma with a reprimand, because 
they could give conclusive proof Orders No. 29 had not 
been promulgated to them. 

Under orders to proceed to Alexandria the company 
and pontoon train left Barre's Landing May 5th, with a 
column of troops under Grover, reaching Washington at 
half-past six in the evening, after a twelve-mile march, 
and remained over night. On the sixth, after a march of 
twenty-four miles over a rough road, a halt was made at 
a large sugar-house for the night. This was a tough day 
for the men ; wagons broke through small bridges crossing 
ravines, had to be unloaded, bridges repaired, wagons 
repaired and reloaded, fences taken down to facilitate 
passing across plantations, and other innumerable vexa- 
tious accidents that make soldiers swear. On the seventh 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 363 

an early start was made ; twenty miles marched before a 
halt for the night was made at a sugar-house two miles 
from Chanaville. On the eighth the march was continued 
to Carnell's Plantation, sixteen miles from Alexandria, 
and on the ninth, after an early start, Company K reached 
Alexandria at noon. Nothing was done at this place 
except to guard a ferry across Red River, where forage 
parties, negroes and horses were constantly coming over. 

Ordered to Simmsport, with troops destined to invest 
Port Hudson, the pontoon train again joined a column 
that left Alexandria May 13th, about two o'clock in the 
afternoon. Fourteen miles were marched that day ; about 
twenty miles to Cheneyville on the fourteenth ; eighteen 
miles to Evergreenville on the fifteenth ; to Moreanville 
on the sixteenth, twelve miles from Simmsport. Simms- 
port was reached about noon on the seventeenth, after an 
average march of fifteen miles a day. Two pontoon rafts 
and an abutment were built next day for a part of the 
army to cross the Atchafalaya River to take transports at 
points on Red River for Port Hudson. The current was 
too strong and river too wide to permit the bridge to be 
used, and fiatboats had to be brought into requisition. 
A portion of the troops marched to Morganza, on the 
Mississippi River, and took transports there. 

Lieutenant Harding and Private Austin Hawes rejoined 
the company on the twenty-first to find the army had 
departed that day, leaving a guard over baggage and 
trains, that were moved as fast as transportation could be 
provided. It was on Sunday, the twenty-fourth, before 
Company K could proceed upon the steamer Fot-est Quee7i, 
arriving at Bayou Sara about ten o'clock the same night. 
The pontoon teams did not arrive until late in the even- 
ing of the twenty-fifth, when they were loaded, ready for 
an early start next morning. 



364 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The first assault on the enemy's works at Port Hudson 
was arranged for May 27th. On the twenty-sixth Com- 
pany K, with the pontoon train, started from Bayou Sara 
at four o'clock a.m., under orders to bridge Bayou Sandy 
(or Sandy Creek) on the Federal right. They arrived at 
two o'clock P.M., after a terrible hot and dusty march of 
sixteen miles. A light footbridge had been built over 
the bayou by pioneers, and one colored regiment was on 
the other side skirmishing with the enemy in a cool, 
collected manner. Work was at once commenced on a 
pontoon bridge two hundred and eighty feet long. Shot 
and shell from the Confederate works, less than a mile 
away, would occasionally fly over the heads of men at 
work, who ran for shelter when they could. The enemy's 
infantry retired when the Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts 
Infantry and Eighteenth New York Battery put in an 
appearance. At night the Third and Fourth Regiments 
Louisiana (colored) Native Guards relieved the Thirty- 
Eighth and the battery. Everybody not obliged to be on 
picket or guard, slept through the night as only worn-out 
men can sleep, without a thought of the morrow, un- 
disturbed by the continual boom from heavy guns fired 
by naval vessels bombarding the enemy. 

Next day, Wednesday, at half-past five o'clock a.m., 
two negro regiments (First and Third Louisiana Native 
Guards), with other troops from Colonel Nelson's brigade 
and two brass guns Sixth Massachusetts Battery, crossed 
both bridges to assault a redoubt. The battery-guns were 
handled in the road until withdrawn, with a loss of three 
horses killed and two men wounded. The infantry, with 
great bravery, pushed up close to the earthworks, where 
they found an overflow of water from the bayou a serious 
obstacle to success, and were obliged to retreat to cover 
of woods. One brave mulatto officer was left dead in 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 365 

the water near the redoubt. Five ineffectual advances 
through this water were made by Nelson's colored brigade 
to scale a high bluff on which the redoubt stood, suffering 
heavily (about four hundred in killed and wounded), before 
approaches could be commenced on advanced ground that 
was gained and held. A cavalry detachment arrived late 
in the afternoon, dismounted and skirmished forward with- 
out any result. On their return an orderly-sergeant was 
killed while recrossing the bridge. During the day shells 
from the enemy came fast, and were exploding lively 
among the tree tops about Sandy Creek, where Company 
K remained as a bridge-guard. The enemy had the 
range, but could not depress their guns to make shot do 
any execution. 

Corporals Lovegrove, Alden and a private were sta- 
tioned at night on the exposed end to cut the lashings, so 
the bridge could be swung to the other shore by guy ropes, 
in case the enemy came down in force. The men not on 
guard slept in sheltered places, behind trees, anywhere 
to escape from shells fired by the enemy throughout the 
night. Early in the evening Lovegrove picked out a 
place, spread his blanket and was about to lie down when 
a shell went under his temporary sleeping bunk without 
exploding. 

In this general assault of May 27th the following (nine 
months) Massachusetts troops were engaged at various 
points on the lines, with credit to themselves : 

Forty-Eighth Infantry, in First Brigade, First Division, 
had seven killed, forty-one wounded. 

Forty -Ninth Infantry, in First Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, seven companies engaged, had sixteen killed, sixty 
wounded. 

Fiftieth Infantry, in Third Brigade, First Division, had 
one killed, three wounded. 



366 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Fifty-Third Infantry, in Third Brigade, Third Division, 
had none killed, several wounded. 

The Thirtieth, Thirty-First and Thirty-Eighth Infantry 
(three years troops) were also in the action. 

After this first assault the pontoon bridge was taken up, 
loaded upon wagons for an immediate start to any portion 
of the lines, and Company K went into camp, near other 
camps, about one and one-half miles to the rear. In 
preparation for a second assault the entire train was 
moved, June 4th, to a position near General Banks' head- 
quarters. On the tenth three detachments from the com- 
pany, with sections of bridge work, were detailed to several 
division commanders, with orders to be prepared to bridge 
the ditch in front of the enemy's works. Lieutenant 
Harding, with about twenty men, remained in camp 
near general headquarters as a guard over material not 
in use. 

Corporal Lovegrove, with three men of Company K, 
was assigned to the First Division, General Augur. 
Forty-two men from the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts 
and One Hundred and Sixty-First New York Regi- 
ments were sent to him and placed under his orders for 
practice. 

Corporal Bates, with a squad of nine Company K 
•men, was assigned to the Second Division, General 
Dwight, until the fourteenth, when Corporal Hall relieved 
him. 

Sergeant Howe, with about fifteen men of Company K, 
was assigned to the Fourth Division, General Grover. 
Forty men from other commands were detailed to assist 
Howe. 

A flag of truce was sent to General Gardner on the 
thirteenth, demanding a surrender of Port Hudson, which 
he refused, and the bombardment recommenced along the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 367 

entire line from new batteries, a prelude to an assault on 
the fourteenth, when an attempt was made by the Second 
Division to work up quietly through a ravine and rush 
over the works, while the Fourth Division assaulted the 
enemy's left, near Sandy Creek. At daylight Corporal 
Lovegrove was ordered to load his bridge on a wagon, and 
the detachment went to within a short distance of the 
works, where they waited for orders. A siege battery in 
front and two light batteries maintained a fire nearly 
all day. The smoke became so dense nothing could be 
seen in front. No assault in force was ordered, and at 
five o'clock p.m. this detail returned to camp. Sergeant 
Howe and his detachment was with a brigade commanded 
by General Paine, in the third line, ready to bridge the 
•ditch immediately after the storming party obtained a 
foothold within the intrenchments. This assault was 
repulsed. After General Paine was wounded, just as the 
ditch was reached, the men were ordered to lie down until 
chance enabled them to creep away in safety towards the 
rear. For hours the men lay in a burning hot sun, shot 
and shell flying thick around them. Fortunately none of 
Company K were killed or wounded ; three men received 
slight scratch wounds. Two men of other regiments, in 
the bridge detail, were killed. Some of the men of Com- 
pany K with Sergeant Howe on this day were : Privates 
Giles Blodgett, Warner E. Bacon, Benjamin F. Bacon, 
Amos D. Bond, Asa Breckenridge, Austin Hawes, R. W. 
Homer, Samuel King and Charles S. Knight. The Thirty- 
Eighth Massachusetts took two hundred and fifty men into 
this assault, and lost one officer, seven men killed ; five 
officers, seventy-seven men wounded ; or about thirty-five 
per cent, of its strength. Eight companies^of the Fifty- 
Third Massachusetts were engaged, three hundred men, 
and lost one officer, thirteen men killed ; six officers and 



3^S HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

sixty-six men wounded ; or about thirty per cent, of its 
strength. 

Other Massachusetts troops at Port Hudson, in this 
second assault, suffered as follows : 

Fourth Infantry, in First Brigade, Third Division, had 
two companies detailed, with three companies from other 
regiments, to carry hand grenades in advance of the 
attacking column. Captain Bartlett, Company K, had 
command, and was mortally wounded upon the breast- 
works. Other companies of this regiment were in the 
reserve line. This regiment lost six killed, sixty-two 
wounded, a number mortally. Most of the casualties 
were in Companies A and K. Captain Hall, Company A, 
was wounded. 

Thirtieth Infantry was in the reserve column and did 
not participate. The color-sergeant was wounded. 

Thirty-First Infantry was in the Third Division assault- 
ing column. Lost thirty men out of two hundred and fifty 
engaged. 

Forty-Eighth Infantry was in the assaulting column and 
lost two killed, eleven wounded. 

Forty-Ninth Infantry was in the brigade. First Division, 
that made a feigned assault, losing eighteen killed and 
wounded. 

Fiftieth Infantry was in the reserve column and did not 
participate. 

Fifty-Second Infantry was deployed as skirmishers 
between Weitzel and Grover, to prevent any flank move- 
ment on the assaulting columns. Lost three killed, seven 
wounded ; one officer mortally. 

For these two assaults many gallant men volunteered to 
lead the several columns. After the second failure it was 
at once decided to try a third time, and orders were issued 
to organize a storming column, after this style : 



massachusetts volunteers. 369 

" Headquarters iqth Army Corps, 

"Before Port Hudson, June 15th, 1863. 
*'■ General Orders No. 49. 

" For the last duty that victory imposes, the commanding 
general summons the bold men of the Corps to the organi- 
zation of a storming column of a thousand men to vindicate 
the Flag of the Union and the memory of its defenders 
who have fallen ; let them come forward. 

" Officers who lead the column of victory in this last 
assault may be assured of the just recognition of their 
services by promotion, and every officer and soldier, who 
shares its perils and its glory, shall receive a medal fit to 
commemorate the first grand success of the campaign of 
1863 for the freedom of the Mississippi. His name will' 
be placed in General Orders upon the Roll of Honor. 
" By command of 

" MAJOR GENERAL BANKS. 
" Richard B. Irwin, 

" Assistant Adjutant -General. 

Between the three years and nine months troops from 
Massachusetts, engaged at Port Hudson, there was no 
choice as to which behaved the best. They all did well 
in the positions they were placed. 

The entire day of the fifteenth was occupied in remov- 
ing dead and wounded men to the rear. All sick and 
wounded who could bear transportation were sent to 
Springfield Landing, thence by steamers to New Orleans, 
for distribution in the general hospitals. Hot weather 
made heavy inroads on the effective strength of besieged 
and besiegers. 

Sergeant Perry, Corporal Bryant, Privates Mcintosh, 
25 



370 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Johnson, Bruce, Desper, L. Barnes, Wheeler, Flagg and 
Sibley, who had been in hospital at Gentilly Bayou, with 
six other men that were in New Orleans, rejoined Com- 
pany K June 15th, in obedience to orders issued June nth. 
Hospital-Steward Wood was sent with them from the camp 
at Gentilly. The effective strength on duty during June 
was : one officer, four sergeants, seven corporals, one 
musician and fifty privates — total, sixty-two enlisted men. 

From June 14th to July 8th the duties of Company K 
were easy. Several men volunteered and served in the 
batteries, while the detailed detachments and sections of 
bridge work remained with each division, ready for any 
movement that should be ordered. News that Vicksburg 
surrendered July 4th was heralded to the troops early on 
the morning of July 7th, by a heavy artillery salute given 
by the left battery. This was followed by an intended 
salute to the enemy, at noon, by all of the Federal bat- 
teries engaged in the siege. The Confederates answered 
by displaying a flag of truce, and an armistice for twenty- 
four hours was arranged between the two commanding 
generals. Soldiers on each side then met each other 
half way between their respective lines, without arms, 
during the night and morning, and had a jolly good time 
together, until a formal surrender took place in the after- 
noon of July 8th. 

Receiving orders to get ready to take the field, the 
bridge was packed upon the wagons, and Company K 
marched into Port Hudson at five p.m. July 9th, all ready 
to embark at once on transports from the landing. For 
three days, under orders and counter-orders, the company 
remained in Port Hudson, while other troops were em- 
barked and sent down the river. 

To open river communication, the entire First Divi- 
sion, General Weitzel in command (General Augur was 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 37 I 

ill), was embarked at Port Hudson upon transports, at 
night, July gth, and sent down to Donaldsonville, dis- 
embarking on the morning of July loth. Other troops 
marched to Baton Rouge, for transportation to the same 
place, and the pontoon train was ordered to follow at 
midnight July 12th. Roused from slumber the men 
worked hard until morning, when the steamer St Maurice 
carried them to Donaldsonville, arriving: in the evenins:, 
July 13th, too late to take part in a reconnoissance made 
that day by the Third Brigade, First Division, under 
Colonel N. A. M. Dudley, Thirtieth Massachusetts. 

What few particulars can be gathered of this second 
action on the La-Fourche are here recorded : 

General Taylor heard of the fall of Vicksburg and Port 
Hudson during the night of July loth. He immediately 
concentrated his troops on the La-Fourche, at Labadieville 
and Donaldsonville, to offer resistance if pressed, until 
sufficient time was gained to clean out his spoils in Bra- 
shear City. 

July nth, the Thirtieth Massachusetts skirmished down 
Bayou La-Fourche about four miles, when they met the 
enemy's cavalry in force, and returned to Donaldsonville 
towards night. At noon the next day this regiment again 
marched down the bayou road about one mile before 
meeting the enemy's pickets, who retired after an exchange 
of shots, a lieutenant of the Thirtieth being wounded. 
After proceeding nearly four miles, this regiment, with four 
guns Sixth Massachusetts Battery, went into bivouac on 
Kock's Plantation. 

Early on the morning of July 13th a few shells dropped 
into the woods where General Green's dismounted cavalry 
and Semmes' battery were under cover, served to elicit a 
reply from that battery; an artillery-fire was maintained 
on both sides for about two hours. Under orders not to 



372 HISTORY OF TH5 FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

bring on an engagement, the First and Third Brigades 
advanced down the right side of the bayou, accompanied 
by an additional battery (First Maine), while a detachment 
from Grover's division, commanded by Colonel Morgan, 
Ninetieth New York, advanced down the left bank. Had 
the pontoon bridge been on hand to facilitate the carrying 
of orders across, perhaps the disaster of this day would 
not have occurred. The bayou was not wide, but no boats 
or skiffs were to be found. There was a stupid disposi- 
tion of the Federal forces, who must have outnumbered 
the Confederates, with an absence of intelligent orders 
from the colonel in command, that has never been satis- 
factorily explained. 

Upon the left bank, in front of Colonel Morgan, was a 
wide, open plain. In front of troops upon the right bank 
were sugar-cane fields, the stalks grown about seven feet 
high, with scattered trees, thick shrubbery and houses, 
both on and off the road, completely obstructing a view 
of what was taking place along the line. The Thirtieth 
Massachusetts, covering the bayou road, could not see 
beyond two hundred yards or so. While artillery-fire 
continued the men were nonchalant, paying little attention 
to shells, as they did no material damage. Some of the 
men improved the opportunity to bathe in the bayou and 
wash their underclothing. 

Until two o'clock p.m. skirmish lines engaged the enemy; 
companies from the Thirtieth Massachusetts supported 
a section First Maine Battery, the One Hundred and 
Seventy-Fourth New York supporting another battery. 
At two o'clock Confederate cavalry on the left bank 
were seen to deliberately form line on the open plain and 
swoop down in fine style, with a continual yell, on the 
men under Colonel Morgan, who fell back rapidly, expos- 
ing Federal troops on the right bank to a flank fire. About 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 373 

the time this cavalry charge was made Confederate infan- 
try and dismounted men, without the customary yell, care- 
fully skirmished through the cane fields on the right bank, 
towards the Federals, who opened an infantry-fire in 
support of the artillery. No connected account of what 
happened along the line can be obtained, but it is well 
known that the Thirtieth Massachusetts suddenly found 
themselves receiving a sharp fire from across the bayou, 
a hot fire in front, and stray bullets from the cane fields 
to their right. Part of the regiment lay down behind a 
provisional breastwork made bj*" the levee bank, which 
was also extended by them over the bayou road, and tried 
to silence the enemy seen in their wide-brim slouch hats 
on the other bayou side. 

Though the enemy steadily crept along in front, to rise, 
fire and drop, to continue creeping up, no one seemed to 
think of a retreat. The two guns, First Maine Battery, 
were in an open space between the bayou road and levee 
bank, just back of the Thirtieth Massachusetts men. 
Exposed to the enemy's fire from across the bayou, the 
cannoneers sought shelter by laying upon the ground 
under their guns. Lieutenant Healy, in command, was 
obliged to use his sword on his men to force them up and 
serve the pieces ; without aid, he loaded and fired a gun 
several times. This state of things continued until about 
three o'clock, when these guns became heated and could 
not be used ; all the artillery horses were killed or dis- 
abled, with but four artillery-men left fit for duty, as the 
rest were killed or wounded. 

Orders had been given to retreat, obeyed by some men 
who heard them, while others did not obey because they 
did not hear on account of the noise made by the 
musketry, artillery and bursting shells. The men who 
remained fought on for a short time, when two small 



374 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

companies One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth New York 
Infantry crowded in on them, pell-mell from the right, 
and completely filled the space that sheltered the Thirtieth 
Massachusetts, leaving bare enough elbow room to work 
in ; still they kept on fighting (these One Hundred and 
Seventy-Fourth New York and Thirtieth Massachusetts 
men) to hold their ground, and at this time the heaviest 
loss of the day occurred. 

When it was seen men were in retreat and the enemy 
was closing in rapidly, Captain Fiske, Lieutenant Barker, 
with some dozen men of the Thirtieth Massachusetts, 
endeavored to save the battery-guns by hauling them over 
a levee bank to the roadway with drag ropes. One gun 
was saved; one gun was abandoned, or thrown into the 
bayou. All of the troops upon and near the road then 
retreated in good order, exchanging shots from behind 
house corners and such shelter as could be found ; in a 
few cases individual soldiers almost crossed bayonets with 
men of the enemy. The Thirtieth Massachusetts colors 
were defended by a handful of men until safe to the rear. 

Colonel Dudley endeavored to rally his men for another 
stand, or check the enemy's advance, and succeeded in 
forming a line of about seventy-five men. This line fired 
a few rounds and then continued the retreat. On the 
retreat Private Horace F. Davis, Thirtieth Massachusetts, 
was cut off in a cane field by Confederate cavalry, made 
a prisoner about six o'clock, and with about fifty more 
prisoners was coralled under a cluster of trees, guarded 
by sentries. A rain-storm set in at night, accompanied 
with heavy thunder and sharp lightning, which enabled 
Private Davis to pass between two Texans, who were 
leaning upon their rifles on guard, and escape by crawl- 
ing along in the darkness between the lightning flashes, 
avoiding the enemy, whose location was shown by their 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 375 

camp fires, around which they congregated, until he joined 
a flag-of-truce party, sent out after the dead and wounded. 
With this party he remained on duty, no one supposing he 
did not come out with them, finally rejoining his regiment 
at one o'clock a.m. 

Private Davis^ while firing from behind the breastwork 
across the road, was in range of a battery-gun First 
Maine. His attention was called to the fact, and at the 
moment he looked behind a shell was fired from this gun, 
the concussion as it passed over him causing a prickly 
sensation in his right eye. Nothing was thought about it 
at the time, or for some time after, until he discovered the 
sight was gone. Not daunted by this discovery, Davis 
remained on duty with his regiment, and reenlisted, with 
one eye, when his first term expired. The sight to his 
right eye has never been restored. 

Other Massachusetts troops in this action were the 
Forty-Eighth and Forty-Ninth Regiments, attached to the 
First Brigade, and the Sixth Battery. 

The Forty-Eighth was posted in sugar-cane fields to the 
extreme right, with a skirmish line out. In retreating, no 
orders were sent to the skirmishers, who were surrounded 
before they knew it, and lost two ofiicers and twenty-one 
men taken prisoners. 

The Forty-Ninth was posted in a lane that ran at a 
right angle with the bayou, and were lying down when the 
fight commenced. The regiment was soon ordered to a 
sugar-house, seen above the sugar-cane, about five hun- 
dred yards to the right and front, to reenforce a regiment 
and battery supposed to be there. No troops were found 
on arrival at the place. This regiment caught a moderate 
infantry-fire from the front, and saw a mounted force upon 
its right. Confederate infantry got in on the left of 
them, when the regiment fell back to the lane, and there 



376 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

remained until a staff-officer, Lieutenant Weber, got to 
them by the rear and ordered the regiment to save itself, 
as it was cut off. This was done by making a detour of 
some three miles through cane fields before it could rejoin 
the command. 

The Sixth Battery lost one gun, dismounted and carried 
a short distance to the rear for repairs, where it had to be 
left, because sudden orders to retreat were given before 
it could be mounted to bring away. 

Total casualties to Massachusetts troops in this action 
were : 

Thirtieth Infantry — Eight killed ; thirty-seven wounded ; 
one missing. 

Forty-Eighth Infantry — Three killed; seven wounded ; 
twenty-three missing. 

Forty-Ninth Infantry — One killed; twenty wounded; 
one missing. 

Sixth Battery — One wounded. 

Other regiments in the two brigades and Colonel 
Morgan's detachment lost in about the same ratio as 
above, because the enemy must have captured at least 
two hundred prisoners, jDrobably more, and men in Com- 
pany K saw at Donaldsonville, laid out for burial, about 
forty Federal soldiers, picked up on the field by a flag-of- 
truce party. Most of these men were shot in the head. 

July 14th and 15th baggage and teams were unloaded 
from the steamer. On the sixteenth two hundred and thir- 
teen feet of bridge was thrown across Bayou La-Fourche, 
under the direction of Sergeant Austin Hawes. The 
company remained on guard until July 20th, when they 
parted from their pontoons, relieved from further engineer 
duty by Captain John J. Smith, with one company First 
Louisiana (colored) Engineers. 

Camp was struck July 21st, when the company pro- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 377 

ceeded to New Orleans upon the steamer Sallie List and 
reported to the regiment at Algiers late in the afternoon. 
Department Special Orders No. i8i, issued July 25th, 
formal!}^ relieved Company K from detached duty in the 
engineer service. 

During this tour of active field service sick men of 
Company K were left in hospitals at Berwick, Brashear 
City, New Orleans, and many men were sent to Gentilly 
Bayou regimental hospital. Deaths from sickness were 
as follows : 

March 31st — Private Albert N. Bliss, fever, at Marine 
Hospital, New Orleans. 

April 26th — Private Charles L. Atwood, fever, at Bra- 
shear City Hospital. 

May ist — Private Charles B. Bacon, fever, at Brashear 
City Hospital. 

May 3d — Corporal George H. Shepard, congestion 
of bowels, at Berwick City Hospital. 

May 24th — Private Samuel A. Knight, , at Baton 

Rouge Hospital. 

May 28th — Private Elias H. Cutler, fever, at Brashear 
City Hospital. 

July 4th — Private George H. Allen, dysentery, at New 
Orleans Hospital. 

July 5th — Private William Stone, typhoid fever, in camp 
at Port Hudson. 



378 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER XVI. 

August — At Algiers — Bound North — On Board 
" Continental " — Arrival Home. 

MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS having decided to send 
the regiment home in a few days, July 29th was 
devoted to cleaning guns and equipments, and turning over 
material to the regimental quartermaster. Orders came 
on the thirtieth to embark August ist on the steamer 
Cofitinental for New York, thence proceed to Readville, 
Massachusetts, and report to the United States mustering 
officer in Boston. The thirtieth and thirty-first July were 
busy days for the quartermaster, who turned over to 
proper Department officers arms, ammunition, equipments, 
camp and garrison equipage, unissued clothing, transpor- 
tation and quartermaster stores, surplus medical and hos- 
pital stores. Twenty-five muskets and five hundred rounds 
of ammunition for the guard was retained. 

All detached service men and convalescent sick men 
able to travel were ordered, by Department orders, July 
25th, to join the regiment. Surgeon Hitchcock and Lieu- 
tenant Proctor reported back to the regiment. Major 
Stiles and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, were relieved 
from court-martial duty July 30th. The detachments from 
Companies A and F reported July 25th from picket duty 
at Bayou St. John and Lakeport, relieved by Company H, 
Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers. The sick in 
regimental hospital not able to travel were removed to 
New Orleans and distributed among the general hospitals. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 379 

The reveille was sounded at three a.m. August ist, and 
every man was busy putting his personal effects in shape 
until the time arrived to eat his last breakfast in Louisi- 
ana. At eight o'clock the embarkation commenced. The 
Contifiental lay alongside the levee, near the warehouse, so 
no difficulty was experienced in placing aboard what little 
baggage was to be transported and the sick men supposed 
to be able to undergo the voyage. After all had got 
aboard, the Co?itinentaI steamed up to New Orleans for 
Brigadier-General Cuvier Grover and his- staff officers, 
Brigadier-General Paine, and a number of officers going 
North on leave of absence. 

An attempt was made by General Grover to have his 
horses and those of his staff sent North upon the steamer. 
The only place where they could be accommodated was 
below the upper deck, where all available space was 
already taken up by the men, crowded well together, while 
space in immediate vicinity of the main hatch had been 
fitted up to accommodate the sick, as it was handy to have 
communication with the cabin ; yet General Grover insisted 
that his horses should be taken on board. No amount 
of expostulation would change his determination. Captain 
Cogswell, Company F, swore that if they did come on 
board not one would be alive after one day at sea. His 
men below deck, packed like sheep in a railroad car, 
would have made short work with the animals before they 
would suffer the nuisance to remain. By a united remon- 
strance to General Banks, from surgeons and officers of 
the regiment, a Board of Survey was ordered and soon 
decided the matter. The horses did not get on board. 
General Grover's conduct in this affair was not humane. 

While tied up at the levee until a decision was reached 
on this horse business. Sergeant Vialle, who was ashore 
on some errand, saw a drunken cavalry-man fall from his 



350 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

horse, and in a kind manner assisted him. The fellow- 
was on a troublesome drunk, and turned on Vialle, accus- 
ing him of stealing his property. This was all that was 
wanted to set the devil at work in a patrol-guard from the 
Ninth Connecticut, who had a guard-station near the spot. 
They arrested Vialle and conducted him to this station, 
with an intention to hold him until after his regiment left. 
Word reached the boys that one of the regiment had been 
seized by the Ninth Connecticut, and on shore a drove of 
them rushed and went direct to the guard-station and 
demanded his release. This was refused, with a threat to 
fire into the crowd if they did not go away ; but the boys 
held their ground, coming in contact several times for a 
scuffle with men on the patrol, who used their bayonets 
once or twice. While in the act of tearing up paving 
stones from the street to hurl at the guard, for the Forty- 
Second men were now thoroughly aroused, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stedman, in a carriage, drove between the two 
bodies of men and put a stop to it. The patrol-guard set 
Vialle free by a back-door entrance of their quarters, when 
they saw what threatened them. 

Hawsers were finally cast ofif, and the Contmental headed 
down river bound for South West Pass. No cheers were 
given as the steamer got underway; all hands felt too 
happy now they were bound home to care a picayune for 
Louisiana. The following officers and men were left in 
Louisiana sick or on detached service : 

Captain George P. Davis, Company K, on provost- 
marshal duty. 

Lieutenant Augustus L. Gould, Company H, acting- 
quartermaster of a colored engineer detachment, to render 
his final accounts. 

Private William H. Gilman, Company C, as hospital- 
steward in General Ullman's brigade colored troops. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 38 I 

Private Everett A. Denny, Company E, on duty at divi- 
sion headquarters. He came North by way of the river, 
in charge of a sick officer. 

Private John Nolan, Company B, sick in hospital with 
chronic diarrhoea. Died in New Orleans. 

Private Lewis Buffum, Compan}^ B, on detached service 
as locomotive engineer. 

Private Jonathan Brown, Company C, in hospital with 
both ankles broke. Came North by way of the river. 

Private Charles McLaughlin, Company H, sick in hos- 
pital with dysentery. 

Sergeant Chauncy B. Sawyer, Company I, was sent to 
St. James Hospital July 31st, sick with typhoid fever. He 
was sent to New York, August 17th, on the Cahawba. 

Private Thomas P. Contillon, Company I, sick in 
hospital. 

Private Thomas F. Igo, Company I, sick in hospital. 

Private Amos B. Howard, Company G, sick in hospital 
with a fever. 

Private Franklin Hall, Company E, sick in hospital. 

After remaining all night at South West Pass, for a high 
tide to cross the bar, early on the morning of August 2d 
the Conti?ie?ital put to sea. Fine weather the entire trip, 
with scarcely a cloud to be seen in the sky and a sea 
almost as smooth as glass, was what kind fortune favored 
the Forty-Second this time. In spite of all this. Lieu- 
tenant Powers, Company F, was again very sea-sick. He 
lay day and night upon the deck, close by the cabin's side, 
covered by his blanket, not wishing any nourishment, and 
took very little of what was forced on him, the picture of 
misery. Not another man on board suffered much from 
sea-sickness ; a slight nausea for one day. 

Mounting a guard every day was the only duty done on 
board ship. The men were allowed to enjoy themselves 



I 



382 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

in any proper manner without restraint. Many of them 
slept on deck at night, instead of in the close, crowded 
deck below. The food furnished was plain, though not 
so good as when on land, while the drinking water was 
bad. Without storage capacity for enough fresh water to 
last the trip for the number of men on board, condensed 
sea-water had to be used. When drank fresh from the 
condenser it was not palatable, but if left to stand ten to 
twelve hours was not bad to the taste, and answered for 
drinking purposes. The difficulty was to get enough 
supply ahead to let it stand these hours, consequently 
most men had to drink it warm or get none at all. Music 
was freely given by the regimental band during the trip, 
and enjoyed for the want of better. 

Details on board ship were : Lieutenant White in charge 
of receiving and delivering rations and of men detailed 
to assist the cook. Lieutenant Tinkham had charge of 
giving out water. 

The strength of the regiment on board was — twenty-two 
officers and four hundred and six men for duty; three 
officers and one hundred and thirty-three men sick, with 
two hundred and seventy-two men paroled prisoners of war. 

During seven nights the Coiitinental was at sea, gambling 
was carried on in the cabin by a few young officers on 
leave of absence. The hours chosen were between ten 
P.M. and two a.m., when those not interested in the game 
had retired. Rolls of bills and small piles of gold pieces 
upon the table was not an unusual sight, while any one 
who had any curiosity, by lying upon the floor (a custom 
followed by some, instead of sleeping in their cabin 
berths), could witness the double dealing done by all the 
players and the passing to and fro of cards underneath- 
the table between partners. It was interesting to witness, 
by outsiders, but the players frequently lost their temper 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 383 

as the play went against them, and open accusations of 
cheating and fraud were frequent, sometimes almost lead- 
ing to a fight. 

In the improvised hospital every attention possible was 
given sick men by the surgeons. The following deaths 
occurred however, and the bodies were committed to the 
deep ocean with usual appropriate ceremonies, viz. : 

August 5th — Private Patrick O'Day, Company H, of 
acute dysentery. 

August 6th — Private Charles H. Poole, Company I, 
of dysentery. 

August 6th — Private Andrew J. Fisher, Company F, 
of heart disease. 

In the cases of Poole and Fisher, their comrades did 
all in their power to give them comfort, but O'Day was 
shamefully neglected by his company officers and com- 
rades, none of whom took the slightest interest in his case. 

On the trip Corporal Andrew P. Olson, Company C, 
sick with chronic diarrhoea, and Private James A. Knight, 
Company F, sick with dysentery, rapidly grew worse. 
By their will power, they lived to reach New York. 
Corporal Olson died August 9th, Private Knight, August 
loth. Private Benoni H. Calvin, Company E, August 12th, 
and Private Thomas Curran, Company C, August 19th, 
after they reached home. 

Cape Hatteras was passed on the night of the sixth ; a 
pilot was taken on board the next evening, and the Conti- 
?iental arrived in New York Harbor early on the morning 
of August 8th. The sick were at once transferred to the 
New England rooms. The steamer Commodo7-e came along- 
side the Contiftental in the afternoon, and men and baggage 
were transferred, to proceed on to Boston, via Providence, 
Rhode Island. 

As the Commodore did not start until seven o'clock in 



384 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

the evening, a day was passed in New York. Most of 
the men remained quietly on board these steamers, or 
upon the pier. Permits to pass the guard, stationed at 
head of the dock, were granted in cases where it was well 
known the privilege would not be abused. The guard. 
Lieutenant Martin Burrell, Jr., in command, was under 
strict instructions, and did their onerous duty well. All 
precautions taken did not prevent some turbulent spirits 
from getting beyond the dock and supplying themselves 
with liquor. No serious cases of intoxication were to be 
noticed, however, until late in the afternoon, when Private 
Con. Dougherty, of Company C, was rolling about the 
dock, insulting everybody in his way, and spoiling for a 
fight. About the same time the guard passed in from the 
street Private John Davis and Sergeant Joseph J. Whitney, 
both of Company H, very drunk and very ugly. Before 
many minutes elapsed the three men came in contact, and 
a savage fight took place. 

Nobody seemed to have the courage to put a stop to it. 
As it occurred in the immediate vicinity of the guard, a 
few officers near by presumed Lieutenant Burrell would at 
once arrest the men. Unfortunately he was absent from 
his post, and the sergeant on duty lacked proper knowl- 
edge of what he had authority to do. Word was sent to 
the lieutenant-colonel, who immediately came on the scene, 
accompanied by Major Stiles. Davis and his companion 
were ordered to stop their rioting, as Dougherty was badly 
punished and at this time upon his back. Davis, now 
full of fight, savagely turned upon Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stedman, and threatened to serve him in the same way 
he had Dougherty, at the same time shaking his fist very 
close to Stedman's face. For at least a minute the parties 
looked at each other : the colonel pale in the face, with- 
out showing signs of fear, only a little hesitation as to 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 385 

what was the proper thing to do ; Davis and Whitney 
uttering blasphemous and insulting language, with threaten- 
ing manners. The sergeant-major drew, cocked his pistol, 
and held it behind his person ready for use, and if either 
of the men had struck their lieutenant-colonel one blow 
they would have been shot down. Lieutenant Burrell soon 
arrived ; he ordered a detail of his guard, with fixed bayo- 
nets, to arrest the three men — if they resisted, to use their 
bayonets freely. This diverted the attention of Davis, 
who at once started for the steamer ; the other two men 
were arrested, but soon after released on promise of their 
company companions to take care of them. 

The principal offender, Private Davis, on reaching the 
Continental, proceeded to whip the steward of that boat, 
whom he owed a grudge, and for a time made things hot 
for everybody. He was not taken in charge at this time, 
nor during the night, notwithstanding he made himself 
very offensive until the effects of bad rum were gone. 
This leniency towards Davis should not have been per- 
mitted. He had placed himself in just such positions 
many times during his service, and should have been 
taught a lesson. As far back as when in camp at Read- 
ville, he was reduced from the rank of corporal on account 
of his rowdyism. 

A heavy fog set in before the steamer was well in Long 
Island Sound, continuing all night. The men slept in 
every nook and corner they could obtain a chance to lie 
down. General quiet prevailed, except such noises as 
were made by a few drunken men, the aforesaid Davis 
among the number. 

Using due care, with a thorough knowledge of Sound 
navigation, the pilot supposed Point Judith was passed 
and steered a course to carry the steamer up Narragansett 
Bay, when at five o'clock a.m. Sunday, August 9th, the 



26 



i 



386 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

CoJ7imodore struck upon the rocks of Point Judith, hard 
and fast. When she struck it was with sufficient force to 
thrpw men partly from their berths. There were two 
distinct shocks, witli a grating sound as if timbers were 
being crushed and broken. No confusion followed the 
event; every one was cool and collected as though nothing 
had happened ; when it was definitely ascertained that 
the steamer was fast upon the rocks, many men went to 
sleep again. 

Upon deck it was impossible to see a hand or any 
object a few feet distant, the fog was so dense. The 
water was smooth and at high tide. After inefi;ectual 
attempts to back off, boats were lowered to make an 
examination of the hull near the water line, and a careful 
inspection made of the hold. While making water freely 
there was no danger, for the bow was hard and fast upon 
the rocks, and when the tide receded would leave her hull 
upon solid bottom ; still all was done that could be to 
stop the leak. 

The fog lifted gradually and by seven o'clock a.m. 
entirely disappeared, when the steamer's position was seen 
to be within a stone's throw of the shore. Adjutant Davis 
and Quartermaster Burrell went ashore, got conveyance 
to Kingston, and with some difficulty opened telegraphic 
communication with Providence, for assistance, also send- 
ing word to Boston. Fortunately the commissariat was in 
condition to keep the men from hunger. With the excep- 
tion of grumbling on account of disappointment at not 
being able, to eat a good breakfast in Boston, the men 
took the accident philosophically. The morning passed 
without any event of importance. 

Early in the afternoon steamer City of Newport arrived 
from Providence, and after attempts were made at high 
tide to float the Co7Ji7nodore into clear water, without 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 387 

success, numerous heavy hawsers being broken, it was 
decided to transfer the men to the City of Newport by 
life-boats from both steamers, each boat-load hauled hand 
over hand along a hawser prepared for the purpose, 
instead of using oars. This operation was slow, the boats 
carrying a small number at a time. As darkness came on 
the tide receded and obliged the City of Newport to let 
go her end of the hawser and keep farther off from shore, 
to prevent grounding ; the wind freshened up and caused 
a heavy swell on the sea and surf on shore. This took 
place before the transfer of men was complete, and made 
the rest of the operation tedious and tiresome, as oars 
had to be used to pull more than a mile. 

Officers and men behaved admirably until afternoon, 
when boats were ready to transfer men ; then came the 
tug of war in an endeavor to fill these boats. Orders and 
in some cases entreaty had to be used in forcing men into 
them. Men who would face an enemy without fear were 
afraid to trust themselves in small boats upon the water. 
The last boat to reach the City of Newport contained 
seven or eight men, who were saved from capsizing, in an 
insane endeavor they made to reach the steamer's deck 
together, by the coolness of two men. 

When all were on board that could be induced to take 
to the boats, the City of Newport proceeded to Providence, 
arriving there at two o'clock Monday morning, August 
10th. No time was lost in taking cars, held in readiness, 
and the train started for Boston without delay, arriving at 
the Boston and Providence depot at five o'clock. Had the 
regiment arrived home on Sunday morning, as expected, 
a rousing reception was ready for it. 

The Forty-Second marched to Faneuil Hall, where break- 
fast was waiting, and the regiment formally welcomed home 
by prominent citizens. At half-past ten o'clock a.m. the 



I 



388 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

regiment formed line and marched to the parade ground 
on Boston Common, where the men were dismissed until 
the twentieth. 

August 20th, 1863, one year after the first detachment 
went into camp as a nucleus to organize the regiment, the 
men assembled upon the old ground at Readville and were 
mustered out of the United States service. 

The following officers and men remained in the enemy's 
hands, prisoners of war : Colonel Burrell, Surgeon 
Cummings, Captains Sherive, Proctor and Savage, Lieu- 
tenants Cowdin, Eddy, Bartlett, S. F. White, Newcomb 
and Stowell, Corporal H. W. Mcintosh, Privates Dennis 
Dailey, Edwin F. Josselyn, Francis S. Morrill, James 
O'Shaughnessy, of Company D ; Corporal David L. 
Wentworth and Private Joseph W. D. Parker, of Com- 
pany G ; Private Joseph W. McLaughlin, Company I ; 
and Private Samuel R. Hersey, Company C. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 389 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Adventures of Corporal Wentworth and Private 
Hersey. 

CORPORAL DAVID L. WENTWORTH, Company 
G, Private Samuel R. Hersey, Company C, and 
Frank Veazie, officers' cook, with about three hundred 
men (including Lieutenant Hamilton, Master Hannum, 
Engineers Plunkett and Stone, of the Harriet Lane), 
left Camp Groce, December 9th, for Shreveport. Long 
captivity in restricted quarters left them in such a debil- 
itated condition that a march of any duration completely 
prostrated them. 

The guard, some fifty men, under a good officer, was 
composed of a clever set of men, who made it easy for 
the prisoners so far as lay in their power, occasionally 
helping some poor fellows along by allowing them to ride 
their horses. Those too ill to walk (Hersey was among 
them, and towards the journey's end Wentworth, sick with 
dysentery) were allowed to ride in the baggage wagons, 
five in number, an uncomfortable conveyance, none pro- 
vided with springs, and the roads in poor condition. 

Cooking utensils were scarce. Living principally upon 
*'mush," each mess, when they arrived at camping places, 
would try all sorts of tricks to secure a '^ dodger-pan " 
from some other mess, in spite of orders, " first come, first 
served." Some would have to wait until late at night for 
their turn to come, while others, too tired, would retire to 
their bed of leaves and go to sleep hungry. 



390 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Every morning a start was made soon after daybreak, 
in order to reach each day's destination as early as possi- 
ble. On an average fifteen to twenty miles constituted a 
day's march, and was done every day until December 22d, 
when a halt for several days was made, one mile beyond 
Tyler, to rest the weary prisoners. While here the ofhcers 
left at Camp Groce passed them on their way to Camp 
Ford, without an opportunity being given to converse. 
Pleasant, cool weather was experienced the first four days, 
then came cold, windy weather for two days, then rain for 
one day, clearing off cold and windy and remaining so until 
the march ended, varied with a few rainy and many cloudy, 
damp and freezing cold days. It took six days to reach 
Trinity River, and several days more before arriving at 
Tyler. The march was resumed on Sunday, December 
27th, crossing Sabine River during the morning, and con- 
tinued each day until about sunset December 30th, when 
it ended, after an eighteen days' tramp, and four days' rest 
at Tyler, twenty-two days after leaving Camp Groce. 

Even the negro drivers, rollicking jolly as they appeared 
to be, singing and yelling all day long, could not enliven 
this small regiment of marching sufferers. A favorite song, 
because it was constantly sang, and in a manner impossible 
for any white man to imitate, " Rock me Julie, rock me," 
rang in the prisoners' ears long after they had parted com- 
pany with their ebony-colored singers. 

The following account of what occurred while at Shreve- 
port was written by Private Hersey, who claims that there 
is no exaggeration in his statements — facts alone are 
stated : 

STATEMENT OF PRIVATE HERSEY. 

"The last two days of the year 1863 will long be 
remembered by those members of our regiment who, with 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 39 1 

some three hundred other Federal prisoners, were wending 
their toilsome way over the rough, frozen roads leading 
from Marshall, Texas, to the Louisiana border, in expec- 
tation, when arriving there, of being exchanged or paroled. 
December 29th a fierce 'Norther' set in, which was soon 
accompanied by a severe storm of rain, hail, snow and 
sleet. Through this terrible storm we plodded on over a 
dreary region of woodland and prairie, with the icy hurri- 
cane piercing our tattered, scanty garments, the pelting 
rain and sleet drenching us to the skin. At night there 
was no shelter from the pitiless storm, excepting such as 
we could find under the wet, dripping branches of the 
forest trees, or form by twisting their* limbs into arches 
and covering them with moss gathered from the cypress 
trees. Those who could creep in under the awnings of 
the army wagons, which the guard had appropriated for 
their own quarters, were fortunate indeed. Sleep or rest 
there was none, and for two days and nights our lives 
dragged on in utter misery. 

"A dozen or more of our number were shoeless, and 
many a footprint stained with the blood of these unfortu- 
nate ones could be traced along the snow-covered ground. 
A score at least had no clothing, except an improvised 
suit made by tieing their well-worn army blankets around 
their waists. The hope of release urged many a poor 
captive forward, who otherwise would have succumbed 
to the fatigues and hardships of the long marches. Even 
the Confederate soldiers who guarded us, although much 
better provided for than ourselves, were scantily and 
meanly clothed, and suffered severely. 

" On the thirtieth of the month, after a day of intense 
suffering from the severity of the weather and the length 
and fatigues of the march, we reached the end of our 
journey, or rather the place where we were to await the 



392 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

arrival of the agei\ts of exchange or parole. We were 
halted in the depths of a snow-covered wood ; there left to 
ourselves to find such shelter as leafless, dripping branches 
of the trees afforded. This locality was known as ' Four 
Mile Springs.' 

*' Beyond this wood was a camp of Federal prisoners, 
who had arrived some time before us, occupying long, 
frame barracks, crowded so as to afford no shelter for 
fresh arrivals. The appearance of these prisoners was 
wretched, and so filthy were their quarters our men 
declared that some of the vermin, or ' graybacks ' as 
they were called, had inscribed upon their backs the 
words, * in for the war.' These poor fellows had been 
quartered since their capture, some six months previous, at 
Camp Ford, Texas, but were marched to their present 
quarters a few weeks previous to our arrival, to await 
exchange. They were chiefly Indiana troops. 

"The weather was extremely cold for this latitude, 
resembling more the rude, bleak winter of our Northern 
clime than the soft, genial atmosphere we had always 
associated in our minds when thinking of the sunny South, 
and was said to be the severest ever known in this region. 

" For a few days after our arrival we were allowed to 
roam at will through the woods and vicinity without a 
guard, for the reason that in daily expectation of proceed- 
ing to our lines the men were not likely to attempt any 
escape. Days passed by in this partial state of freedom, 
until finally, as the days passed into weeks without any 
indications of a speedy release, our hopes again began to 
darken ; the men grew restive, and numbers of them were 
daily missing at roll-call. Every man who attempted 
escape was recaptured before he got far away and brought 
back to be placed under guard. 

" During our long captivity in Texas our hopes and 



i 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 393 

expectations had so often been raised only to fall again, 
we got somewhat accustomed to disappointments of this 
nature, but never since our capture had we been quite so 
sure of immediate release, or felt the bitterness of ' hope 
deferred,' as we did then. In our prison days at Houston 
and Camp Groce we had regular qtiotations of exchange, 
and the stock was as fluctuating as any in the markets of 
Wall or State Streets ; our days were made cheerful or 
gloomy according as the stock advanced or fell. 

" One morning, at roll-call, we were all summoned to the 
headquarters of Colonel Theard, commanding the prison- 
guard, and informed that our Government refused to 
receive us as paroled prisoners, also refusing to negotiate 
for our exchange. The colonel made us a neat little 
speech, in which he expressed his sympathy for us in our 
deplorable condition, and informed us he had sent a letter 
to General Kirby Smith, commanding the Confederate 
Trans-Mississippi Department, asking him to issue cloth- 
ing, and describing our destitution and sufferings. He 
also stated he had written to the general, that in case he 
could not comply with the request for clothing he should 
feel impelled, from an aversion to seeing so much distress 
continually before his eyes, to ask to be relieved of his 
duties as commander of the prison camp. As we never 
received any clothing from General Smith, or any other 
quarter, and as the Confederate soldiers were sadly in 
need of supplies, I was convinced that the Quartermaster 
Department of the Trans-Mississippi army was in a wofully 
depleted condition. 

"In front of Colonel Theard's headquarters was an 
extensive plateau, and here we were ordered to encamp, 
a guard again placed over us and the dead line traced out. 
This broad plain was perfectly barren of shrubbery or 
trees ; not even a plot of grass could be found upon it. To 



394 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

make shelter for ourselves we were allowed to go into the 
woods in squads, under guard, and cut timber and gather 
leaves. In a few days there sprung into existence, upon 
this plateau, a village of huts and nondescript structures 
of the quaintest and most original designs imaginable. 
Many of these habitations consisted simply of a few bent 
twigs, arched so as to form a burrow just large enough to 
creep into head foremost, suitable only to sleep in. Those 
who from sickness or weakness were unable to erect a 
domicile depended u^Don the generosity of their more 
fortunate comrades, or slept in the open air. Our rations 
consisted chiefly of coarse corn meal, coarse salt, sugar, 
and occasionally beef. Having a limited number of cook- 
ing utensils, we were often obliged to wait for hours before 
we could cook our food. Our guards at this camp were a 
good-hearted set of fellows, and, with a few exceptions, 
inclined to favor us whenever they could. 

"About the middle of January Colonel Theard was 
relieved of his command, much to our regret, for his 
treatment of us had been kind and considerate. His 
heart was evidently not much in sympathy with the rebel- 
lion, for we heard a short time after his removal he had 
left the Confederate army and taken the oath of alle- 
giance to the Federal Government, in New Orleans. He 
was succeeded by Colonel Harrison, whose administration 
of affairs while not particularly harsh was lacking in the 
kindliness which we had always met with under Theard. 

" Rumors of the opening of cartels for exchange were 
as rife here, and received almost as often, as in our former 
days at Houston and Camp Groce. ' Exchange stock ' 
rose and fell with almost its former regularity ; our daily 
advices from Shreveport caused a constantly-fluctuating 
stock board. Our own Government was universally con- 
demned for its indifference or neglect of our welfare, and 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 395 

many an imprecation was hurled against those who had it 
in their power to exchange or parole us and would not. 
We frequently heard of the exchange of other Federal 
prisoners, and knew that the Confederates captured at 
Vicksburg and Port Hudson had all, long ago, been re- 
leased, and therefore it was we complained so bitterly 
against our fate. 

"About the middle of March rumors of General Banks' 
advance towards Shreveport with a large army came thick 
and fast, greatly elating us with a hope they might soon 
encircle the place of our imprisonment. Suddenly, on the 
morning of March 2^th, the prison camp was broken up 
and the prisoners, excepting Wentworth, Williams and 
I, were started on the road towards Texas, destined for 
Camp Ford. 

" Upon our arrival at Four Mile Springs Wentworth and 
I discovered on the roadside, in the woods and beyond the 
place where the command had been halted, a log hut, in 
which we found quarters for the night. The hut was a 
small, dilapidated structure, like old log cabins of the 
early settlers, and evidently been standing for many years. 
We found it occupied by three Confederate soldiers, fitted 
up as a blacksmith shop for the cavalry forces in the 
vicinity. The exposed condition of the building rendered 
it only a partial shelter from the storm, for through chinks 
in the roof and walls the wind and sleet came in freely, 
and the smoke from the smouldering fire filled the space 
within almost to suffocation ; however, it was a better 
refuge than the other prisoners could find. Upon lumps 
of coal and bits of iron on the rude forge I endeavored 
to find rest in vain ; the wind blew through the log 
crevices in furious blasts, and that side of my clothing 
exposed to the hut walls was covered with a thin coating 
of ice, making sleep or comfort impossible. It was a 



396 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

terrible night for the half-clad, shivering wretches outside, 
and a most cheerless, uncomfortable one for those inside. 

''The next morning broke clear, but cold and windy. 
A thin surface of sleety snow covered the ground, causing 
the landscape around us to look anything but Southern. 
The men were huddled around slowly burning camp fires, 
waiting patiently for the distribution of their meagre 
rations and trying to get warmth into their almost frozen 
limbs. 

" The three soldiers occupying the hut were no better 
off as to accommodations, and not a whit better provided 
with rations than ourselves. We lived with them during 
our stay at Four Mile Springs, and became in that time 
greatly attached to them. Their names were Ramsey, Dick 
Fickling, and Stanley. Mr. Ramsey, or 'Pap' Ramsey, as 
he was familiarly called, was an old man, about sixty years 
of age, a splendid specimen of our ideal western back- 
woodsman. His life had been passed on the v/ild borders 
of the Indian Territory and Western Louisiana, knowing 
little of life in cities and towns. He had never strayed 
beyond his native prairies and forests until the Southern 
Confederacy, in its distress for every able-bodied man, 
brought him forth from his peaceful cabin, compelled to 
enter its service. He was conscripted some few months 
previous to our arrival, but being too old for the routine 
duties of a soldier's life was detailed to serve as black- 
smith for the regiment in which he was placed. A tall, 
broad-shouldered, well-built man, with gray hair and beard, 
and an eye as bright and keen as any young person ; he 
was simple-hearted, unskilled in the ways and observances 
of the world, but with a vast experience of the rough, 
free, adventurous life of a pioneer. Stanley, his assistant, 
was a young man, about twenty-five years old, large-hearted, 
good-natured, and always ready for sport, but with a natural 



I 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 397 

aversion to work. His comrades gave him the name of 
* Fox,' on account of the cunning and shrewdness he dis- 
played in stealing away from camp to visit his home, six- 
teen miles away, on every possible occasion. He seldom 
applied for a furlough, deeming such sort of discipline, as 
he said, entirely unnecessary and too much like slavery. 
When called to account by his officers for his absence 
from his regiment, he generally appeased their wrath by 
presenting them with a fine turkey or shote. A conscript, 
he managed to evade camp duty by getting detailed as 
assistant-blacksmith, though wherein his assistance was of 
any value or service to Mr. Ramsey would have been 
difficult for an observer to tell. The only labor he was 
ever known to perform was to occasionally wield the 
sledge, when the other assistant was absent. His ideas in 
regard to the cause or object of the war were vague and 
indefinite, but as far as he knew them they were altogether 
opposed to the Southern Confederacy. He was the owner 
of one slave, who took charge of his little farm while he 
was away. 

" Anxious to continue our abode with these kind- 
hearted soldiers, Wentworth and myself called upon Colo- 
nel Theard, when the prisoners were again placed under 
guard, prevailing upon him, after considerable pleading, 
to allow us a pass, granting the liberty of the camp until 
further orders ; a phrase we construed to mean any distance 
within five miles of the hut. When Colonel Harrison 
succeeded Colonel Theard he was disposed to revoke this 
pass, condescending, after some persuasion, to let the 
order ' remain for the present.' He was a strict dis- 
ciplinarian, severe and often harsh in his treatment of the 
prisoners and his own men ; it was a surprise to all that 
we had won such favor. 

"Time wore on pleasantly; the weather grew mild and 



398 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

genial, and about the middle of January the short Southern 
winter was over. Our hut was romantically situated, and 
since our occupation of it we had closed up the chinks in 
the sides and patched the roof, so that the rain could no 
longer gain entrance. The road in front of us wound 
through a broad tract of beautiful woodland, and stretched 
on in one direction to Shreveport, in the other to the 
prison lines. Beyond this forest was a vast waste of 
swamp land, covered with a prolific growth of cypress 
and gum trees, and intersected in every direction by dark, 
coffee-colored bayous, in which the finest species of the 
' Buffalo ' fish were found. Along the banks of these 
streams and scattered over the bottom-lands were clusters 
of impenetrable thickets,where countless numbers of bright- 
plumaged birds made their nests, and where the venomous 
mocassin and deadly scorpion found hiding places. All 
day long, in the deep recesses of these lonely wilds, the 
air was resonant with the music of feathery warblers. 
We caught many of them in traps, which Stanley was 
expert at making, but remembering our own prison experi- 
ence we never kept them long 'in durance.' 

" The hut soon became a popular rendezvous for Con- 
federate soldiers passing to and from their camp, and we 
became acquainted with most every one belonging to the 
regiment acting as prison-guard. With some we formed 
friendships that lasted long after the war closed. Political 
questions were seldom argued, but when they were it was 
always with good humor on their part at least, and we 
were invariably treated with courtesy and kindness, often 
with generosity. 

" Life at the hut was by no means monotonous ; each 
day found us enjoying ourselves in a free and easy way. 
Mr. Ramsey was owner of a fine horse, and valued him 
highly. The old man gave me jDermission to ride the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 399 

animal whenever I felt inclined, leaving the whole care of 
the horse to me. With Stanley, always ready for a drive, 
I took many an excursion through the woods and swamps 
and to the different plantations in the neighborhood; thus 
became acquainted with about every planter within a radius 
of five miles from camp. Amongst them was Mr. Elliot, 
owner of a plantation at Bayou Pierre, with whom I formed 
a most intimate and pleasant acquaintance. With him 
and his family I often passed a delightful hour, always 
entertained as a welcome guest. Mr. Elliot had formerly 
been in the Confederate army. While with his regiment 
in Tennessee, just after the battle of Perryville he pur- 
chased a furlough for a large amount of money, returning 
home, and had not again rejoined his command. In order 
to obtain exemption from conscription he purchased the 
position of superintendent of a Government planing-mill 
in Texas, but had not reported at his new field of service. 
He was a thorough Union man, and a bitter enemy of the 
Confederacy. His service in the army was compulsory, 
and although engaged in several battles said he had never 
fired a gun during the actions except in the direction of 
the sky. He was, like many others of the South, an owner 
of slaves, but not an advocate of slavery. Through him I 
became acquainted with many loyal men, and was sur- 
prised to find the Union sentiment so strong. Of the 
half-dozen or more planters living v>fithin four miles of the 
camp not one was an advocate of secession, but all were 
anxiously longing for the approach of our army to this 
portion of the State. Even amongst our prison-guard we 
found many a secret friend of the Union, who only waited 
for an opportunity to place themselves in the ranks of 
its army. The number of such was by no means small, 
although the great majority were loyal to the ' Stars 
and Bars.' 



400 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

'^During the latter part of January I obtained of Colo- 
nel Harrison permission for two other prison comrades to 
live with us at the hut. They were Williams, whom we 
called * Transport,' and the carpenter of the United States 
ship Morning Lights who went by the name of ' Chips.' 
Their arrival rendered it necessary for us to enlarge our 
dwelling. Through the soft persuasiveness of Wentworth, 
the quartermaster was prevailed upon to grant us a small 
supply of timber and nails, and in a short time we built a 
small addition to the hut, in which we erected sleeping 
bunks for the accomodation of us all. 

" My acquaintance with the quartermaster's clerk, young 
Finney, enabled me to obtain a much larger supply of 
rations than I was lawfully entitled to, and, as I was usu- 
ally allowed to attend to the weighing of them, I did not 
hesitate to take advantage of this privilege for the benefit 
of us all. By going a short distance into the woods we 
were sure to find a stray hog or pig wandering around, 
and our stock of pork was always well kept up. It being 
against orders to kill any of them, the undertaking was 
always attended with considerable difficult}^, and we were 
obliged to hunt our game at night. As we never could 
get near enough to kill them by any other means than 
shooting, the report of our gun at midnight was frequently 
heard at camp, the officers invariably causing inquiries to 
be made concerning the reason of the untimely firing. To 
prevent discovery we concealed our game in a small cellar, 
dug under the floor of our hut annex, with the boards so 
arranged that they appeared nailed down to the uninitiated. 
Our cooking of this food was done when no prying eyes 
were upon us and the savory odor would not be likely to 
betray us. Besides this sort of fare, costing nothing, we 
had frequent opportunities of purchasing sweet potatoes, 
eggs and butter, with money obtained by the sale of our 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 40I 

tricks and watches when leaving Camp Groce. Our table 
was unrivalled by any of the 'messes,' either of the 
prisoners or the guard. The 7ie plus ultra of cookery 
were the ' corn-dodgers ' Wentworth made to perfection, 
and which were certainly worthy the skill of the finest 
French cook. Old 'Pap' Ramsey refused to indulge his 
appetite with this rich food, claiming that such delicacies 
would inevitably bring on gout or dyspepsia, and that his 
palate, accustomed to the coarse, homely fare of the back- 
woods, was unfitted for the luxurious compound which 
Wentworth made. Through the colonel's orderl}^, George 
Cole, I was usually the recipient of some dainties from his 
table, after an entertainment had been given by that officer 
to visiting friends. 

" One day during February Wentworth obtained permis- 
sion of Colonel Harrison to visit Shreveport on one of the 
army wagons, which made daily trips to that place. His 
stay there, for a few hours only, was quite long enough for 
him to get disgusted with the appearance of the city, and 
especially with the fabulous price they charged him for his 
dinner ; a small piece of pork, with bread and butter, and 
a tiny cup of coffee cost him six dollars. 

"A few days after Wentworth's return 'Transport' made 
the same trip without obtaining the requisite permission. 
The day previous, while strolling in the woods, he met in a 
quiet nook a few Confederate teamsters with a supply of 
Louisiana rum, which they invited him to drink. The 
temptation was too strong for his feeble powers of resist- 
ance, and the potations were so deep and frequent that he 
was soon exalted to a state of complete recklessness. In 
this condition he remained with his jovial friends over 
night, accompanying them the next morning to Shreveport. 
On reaching the city he was so muddled for awhile he 
was unable to clearly comprehend the state of affairs, and 



402 

even in doubt as to his own identity, whether he was a 
Federal prisoner or a Confederate soldier. The following 
morning he was found at the entrance to a hospital, stand- 
ing guard for a soldier whom he had succeeded in making 
even drunker than himself. An hour or so later he found 
himself on board the ram Webb (then lying in the river 
abreast of the city), in the presence of a recruiting officer, 
who endeavored to persuade him to join the vessel, by 
offering him tempting inducements in the shape of pay 
and bounty. 'Transport/ though very drunk, was not to 
be enticed by any proffers which they could make him to 
desert his flag. 

" Late that evening he returned in company with his 
convivial friends, reckless of consequences and unable to 
give a satisfactory account of his trip. That same night he 
was sent for, to explain his absence without leave, failing 
in which he was deprived of his liberty and placed under 
guard again. The next morning I met him in camp, and 
a more pitiful-looking object I could hardly have imagined ; 
no wonder the poor fellow was disconsolate after his recent 
experience of partial freedom with us. He begged me to 
intercede with Colonel Harrison and obtain his release, 
swearing eternal gratitude if I would, and promising not 
to be overcome by such a temptation again. I found the 
colonel in good humor and had no difficulty in persuading 
him to grant ' Transport ' a new lease of freedom ; only he 
proposed, he said, to hold me personally responsible for 
my comrade's good behavior in the future. His demon- 
strations of joy, when I carried him the good news, were 
unbounded, but his promises of good be^iavior were short- 
lived, for the same day he again fell in with his festive 
friends, and during his spree so far forgot himself as to 
make a visit to the colonel, at his headquarters, to request 
the loan of a horse. The utter ridiculousness of such a 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 403 

request, coupled with the jovial good nature with which he 
made it, so amused the colonel that he allowed him to 
return to the hut with a slight reprimand. A few days 
after this ' Chips ' was remanded to the lines for drunken- 
ness and insulting an officer of the guard while in that 
condition. 

" For several days during the latter part of March the 
prison camp was kept in a continuous state of excitement 
iDy a variety of conflicting rumors concerning the disposi- 
tion to be made of us, on account of the approach of our 
army up the Red River, under General Banks. An occa- 
sional report would reach us that we were to be sent at 
once to our lines and transportation down the river was 
being prepared ; but the gist of these rumors indicated a 
removal of all prisoners in this vicinity to Camp Ford, in 
Texas. We were on the alert for any news of a definite 
description ; our only fear was that we would be suddenly 
ordered into camp with the other prisoners. 

"While standing by the fire-place in the hut, early on 
the chilly morning of March 26th, I saw a squad of cavalry 
pass along the road in front, and a few of their number 
dismounted and entered, to warm themselves by the fire. 
I saw at once they were not Colonel Harrison's men, and 
inquired where they were going so early in the morning. 
Not knowing I was a ' Yankee ' prisoner, they replied that 
they had come from Shreveport for the purpose of taking 
the 'Yanks' to Camp Ford, and said the 'Yankee' army 
was booming along up the Red River and had already 
reached Natchitoches, and would soon reach Shreveport 
unless defeated. The prisoners were to start at nine 
o'clock, under orders to make forced marches until their 
destination was reached. I pretended to be much pleased 
at the idea of being relieved from guard duty, and gave 
utterance to a few other justifiable prevarications to con- 



404 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

ceal my identity, fearing all the while a guard or summons 
should come for us from the camp. 

"When they had gone I went to the bunk where 
Wentworth, who heard the conversation, was lying, and 
urged him to start immediately for the swamp in rear of 
Elliot's Plantation. As he was undecided what to do, I 
started for the woods, meeting 'Transport,' who joined 
me, until a deep ravine near the swamps was reached. 
I left ' Transport ' and started for the hut for my money I 
forgot to bring away. Meeting Mrs. Gupton, an acquaint- 
ance, she volunteered to procure my money while I awaited 
her return. She soon came back with it and the informa- 
tion that Wentworth was alone at the hut, still undecided 
what to do. I made my way to Elliot's Plantation, and 
waking Elliot up, for it was yet early, I explained the 
situation of affairs and asked his advice. He told me 
to return to the ravine, secrete myself until I should hear 
from him, and that he would visit camp to obtain all the 
information he could. 

"Finding 'Transport' where I left him, we lay for hours 
expecting every moment to be discovered or trailed by 
hounds, which we could hear yelping in the distance. 
Late in the afternoon Mr. Elliot sought us, bringing a 
substantial supply of food, the more welcome because we 
had eaten nothing since the day previous. He reported 
that on his way to camp he found the prisoners already 
drawn up in the road, near the hut, answering to roll- 
call. He was unable to state whether our names had 
been called, but thought they had been omitted or some 
one had responded for us. He found Wentworth inside 
the hut, seated upon a log, smoking, and apparently in 
deep thought. He advised him to strike for liberty at 
once, and Wentworth jumped out of the window in the 
rear, hurrying to a thicket that bordered a small stream 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. '405 

back of the hut. Shortlyafterwards line was formed and the 
command given to start. We passed the night in a woody 
hollow between the trunks of two fallen trees, every now 
and then alarmed by a pack of hounds barking near by, 
who we feared were on our track, but we afterwards learned 
belonged to a neighboring planter, a Union man. 

" Early next morning Mr. Elliot sent a servant to us 
with breakfast, and shortly after appeared himself. We 
held a consultation as to the best mode of procedure, and 
concluded that the safest plan would be to remain con- 
cealed near or in the swamp-lands, until Banks' army 
approached, which we then had no doubt would soon be 
in this vicinity. Mr. Elliot offered to supply us with food 
and to give us such information as he could obtain. The 
weather being now mild and pleasant, our open-air quar- 
ters were rather pleasant than otherwise." 

The statement of Private Hersey ends here. The 
following account of wanderings and adventures in the 
attempt of Wentworth, Hersey and Williams to reach the 
Federal lines is compiled from Private Hersey's diary, 
and verified by him : 

Hersey and Williams remained concealed in the swamp, 
at " Fort Hersey " (so named), until April 17th, their wants 
provided for by Mr. Elliot, when they found Wentworth, 
who had been kindly befriended by a Confederate soldier 
named Leeds, afterwards by a Mr. McGee, owner of a 
plantation. They knew of reenforcements for the Con- 
federates arriving from Texas and Arkansas, and saw a 
portion of General Price's Arkansas men marching along 
a road crossing the margin of the swamp, on their way 
towards Mansfield. They heard heavy firing in that 
direction April 8th, and the next day were informed by 
Mr. Elliot of the total defeat of the Federal troops at 
Sabine Cross-Roads and their retreat to Alexandria. 



4o6, 

At McGee's Plantation a conference was held by Hersey^ 
Wentworth, Williams and several Unionists, Mr. Elliot^ 
Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Bell, and Mr. McGee, when it was 
decided the safest course was for them to make their way 
down the country by following the river until Alexandria 
was reached, and watch for an opportunity to cross inta 
the Federal lines. This meeting was held April 17th, and 
the tramp was commenced April 20th (declining to allow 
a deserter from the Confederate army to join them), by 
Wentworth, Hersey and Williams, who crossed the Red 
River to the north bank at Bell's Plantation, to follow the 
plan decided upon, viz., to cross the river, follow its course 
down, keeping in the swamps and woods as much as possi- 
ble, claim to belong to Harrison's regiment if questioned or 
suspected, and that they were on their way to rejoin from 
the hospital at Shreveport. Harrison's regiment was then 
on the north bank operating against the Federal navy, under 
Admiral Porter. They felt confident their clothing would 
not betray them, as it was entirely of homespun material. 

The first day, while being entertained by Union people^ 
Monsieur Lattier and his two granddaughters, Mrs. 
Scopenie and Miss Sophia Hall, they escaped capture by 
three cavalry-men, who rode up to the house, by hiding in. 
one of the rooms until they had departed. The ladies 
thought it was a very romantic episode, but the prisoners 
did not. Travelling sometimes all night, or all day, or 
partly by day and night, in the swamps, with their course 
lying in a south-easterly direction, they were guided by 
the North Star when the nights were clear, occasionally 
losing the way when the sky was clouded. Food was 
obtained by going to houses and asking for it; water, by 
filling their canteens at rain-water cisterns ; and sleep, in; 
deserted cabins, corn cribs, or under trees. 

They were always enabled to trace the windings of the 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 407 

Red River by tall trees that grew along its banks and 
marked its course. Most of the planters' residences were 
situated near the river road, facing the river ; the planta- 
tions extending back to the swamp-lands or forests. The 
land in this region was as level as a prairie, and the soil 
of the farms a rich, black earth, with scarcely the smallest 
pebble to be found upon it. They crossed Loggy Bayou 
on the twenty-second, went through Springville Village at 
night on the twenty-fourth, reaching the pine woods on the 
twent3'-fifth, where it was almost impossible to conceal 
themselves from the eyes of anybody they chanced to meet, 
on account of the absence of undergrowth or shrubbery. 
In passing through the town of Compti, on the twenty- 
sixth, recently burned by the Federals, Hersey says : " We 
stopped in a ravine on the edge of the town until after 
midnight, and then quietly and cautiously went forward. 
The few houses remaining look deserted, and the whole 
scene, as we viewed it in the darkness of the night, was 
the picture of desolation. The silence of death reigned 
over the place, except now and then when an owl would 
hoot in the woods that fringed the suburbs. We had just 
reached a bridge crossing a little stream in the centre of 
the town when we were terribly alarmed by the sudden 
sound of horses hoofs on the road behind us. On looking 
back we saw through the darkness a number of horses 
galloping towards the bridge at a terrific rate, so rapidly 
as to give us no chance to escape them. The scare was 
of short duration, for when they rushed by we saw that 
they were riderless, and probably had taken us for their 
masters. The shock produced a sense of timidity upon us 
we could not shake off with all the assumption of gayety 
and laughter that we outwardly manifested, and we felt 
greatly relieved when we reached the woods and left the 
desolate town far behind us." 



4o8 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

They frequently saw officers and men, but managed to 
evade them, until on the night of April 27th they reached 
a bayou and were dismayed to find a soldier on guard at 
the only fording place they could discover. Hersey says : 
"This was the worst obstacle we had yet encountered, 
and we were at loss to find a way to overcome it. The 
banks of the stream were high and steep. We crept 
onward to get a better view of the situation, and could 
plainly see the sentry by the light of his bivouac fire. He 
was sitting or reclining upon an old log with the light 
shining upon his face, his gun across his shoulder. We 
soon saw he was fast asleep, and decided to cross while he 
was wrapt in slumber. The distance from bank to bank 
was short, but the fording place was narrow and almost 
barred by the form of the guard. The undertaking was 
venturesome, but there was no other way out of the diffi- 
culty, so we determined to run the gauntlet. Arranging to 
go one at a time, Wentworth started first, passed the 
sentry safely, climbing the opposite bank. As I drew 
near I felt a strange fascination which almost deprived me 
of action, and when I reached him was compelled to stop 
and gaze into his face before the spell was dissolved. 
Williams, who came last, was also successful, but we could 
not resist our suppressed laughter at the comical figure he 
cut in his endeavors to deaden the sound of his footsteps. 
With a sense of relief we made haste to gain the woods, 
and travelled on until morning." 

On the twenty-ninth of April, when within thirty miles 
of Alexandria, they accidently stopped at the house of a 
Jayhawker (a name given to those secret bands of Southern 
Unionists who resisted by force the conscription acts and 
were the deadliest foes of the guerrillas), who provided 
them with food and excused himself from giving breakfast 
to a Confederate lieutenant of cavalry and three privates, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 409 

who rode up while the three escaped prisoners were tally- 
ing with their host upon the door-porch. By advice of 
this Jayhawker they endeavored to find a Madam Nowlan, 
who lived near the river, and who, he said, would find a 
way to assist them across the river into the Federal lines. 

The next day, April 30th, while proceeding in the direc- 
tion given them how to find Madam Nowlan's Plantation, 
they encountered an army wagon and learned from a 
soldier that Harrison's cavalry was not far away, stationed 
on that side of the river. This fact decided them to 
represent Texans, knowing they were on the south side, 
and they were well acquainted with the history of many 
Texas regiments. About noon they called at a house to 
procure a dinner, introducing themselves as Texas soldiers 
attached to Captain Clipper's company, of Elmore's regi- 
ment, on their way from Shreveport hospitals to rejoin their 
company. While awaiting dinner, conversation was carried 
on with the host, under some shady trees, about army 
matters, until Williams asked the nearest way to reach 
Madam Nowlan, when a red-headed man came from the 
house and demanded in a rough tone : " What do you 
know about Madam Nowlan ? " The question was so 
abruptly asked, Wentworth and Hersey were disconcerted 
for a moment. They were subjected to a series of ques- 
tions and cross questions, which were answered as best 
they could ; Hersey's information, gathered while visiting 
Colonel Harrison's headquarters, about the Confederate 
troops in Louisiana and reenforcements expected from 
Texas and Arkansas coming in very opportune. 

The red-headed man was a "courier," named Harris, 
attached to the "courier line" carrying despatches between 
army headquarters and Shreveport, on the north bank of 
Red River. He suspected the three prisoners were spies, 
and was not to be duped. Disappearing for a short time, 



41 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

he returned followed by three soldiers, who apparently- 
dropped in one at a time, as if by chance. Courier 
Harris laid his plans well. Offering no opposition to 
their departure, they started for the river road, when he 
followed them and began conversation, intimating a desire 
on his part to desert. They were not to be caught by this 
trick and resented such proposals, when he rode away,, 
after directing them how to reach the river crossing. Feel- 
ing that the end was near, they kept on until a deserted 
log house built upon piles, beneath which was a little 
grass plot, tempted them to rest under its cool shelter. 

While resting a pack of hounds surrounded them, soon 
followed by a cavalry squad, headed by Harris, who 
levelled their guns and ordered a surrender. The 
prisoners were taken to the house of Mr. Swafford, said 
to be the headquarters of the courier line, and there kept 
until their case was reported to Brigadier-General Liddel,. 
commanding Confederate forces. 

On Monday, May 2d, Captain Micot, chief of the courier 
line, arrived to take them to General Liddel, whose camp 
was about twenty-five miles distant, opposite Alexandria. 
Captain Micot was sociable and friendly, expressing his 
sympathy and promising to do what he could for them. 
He did so, returning from an interview with his general 
exclaiming : " Well, boys, I 've got good tidings for you,"' 
handing them a piece of paper, torn from the blank leaf 
of a printed book, upon which the following lines were, 
written in pencil : 

" Guards and pickets will pass Samuel R. Hersey, David 
L. W^entworth and Charles Williams outside the Con-- 
federate lines. 

"BRIGADIER-GENERAL LIDDEL, 

'' Per J A. A. A. 6^.'* 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 41 1 

A verbal provision was attached to the pass, that they 
must not attempt to reach the Federal lines on Red 
River, but return by way of Harrisonburg, thence to the 
Federal forces on the Mississippi River. This pass, Cap- 
tain Micot informed them, would be respected by all 
regular Confederate soldiers, but probably not by the 
guerrillas, as they were not subject to the discipline of the 
army. Thus was Williams' oft-repeated prediction, ^' Our 
journey is only a round-about road to Texas again, it 
would be better for us if we had gone with the crowd,'* 
not likely to be realized. 

The three prisoners returned to Swafford's house, 
accompanied by Captain Micot and a private named 
Meecum. Meecum, who found an opportunity to unbosom 
himself, advised them to call upon his father, a Baptist 
clergyman and member of a league of Jayhawkers, resid- 
ing about seventeen miles from Swafford's, directly on 
their way, who would mark out a course to pursue that 
would be of assistance. He had a brother serving in the 
Federal army, and his sympathies were with the Union 
cause j his service was compulsory with the Confederates. 

Wednesday, May 4th, Wentworth, Hersey and Williams 
again commenced a tramp of one hundred and seventy- 
five miles, after an adieu to their Confederate friends who 
had treated them very kindly ; since their recapture it 
appeared to them as though they were friends upon a visit,.. 
so considerate had been the treatment they received from 
everybody with whom they came in contact. Mr. Swafford 
presented Wentworth with a blood-hound " pup " of fine 
breed, as a remembrancer of him, and also as a reward for 
those songs Wentworth sang at his house and the marvel- 
lous yarns he told, the like of which they never heard 
before and will probably never listen to again. 

They were hospitably entertained that night by Rev. 



412 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Mr. Meecum, the next night by Mr. Paul, twenty miles 
beyond, and then travelled onward carefully in order to 
avoid guerrillas, especially a band known as '^ dog " Smith's 
(a name given them on account of their use of blood- 
hounds in hunting victims), until May 8th, stopping each 
night with some friendly Unionist, to whom they were 
directed by the preceding host. 

It was on Sunday, May 8th, after remaining over night 
with a Mr. "Jack" Wharton, as he was called, they walked 
into a guerrilla camp, situated in the dense woods near 
Tensas River. The ''pass" did not satisfy the motley 
crowd of ill-clad, villainous-looking men, who heaped the 
vilest epithets upon them, and several men threatened to 
shoot them down but were held back by their comrades. 

The guerrilla chief, Captain Smith, was absent, and the 
prisoners were taken before a Lieutenant Eddington, a 
young man about twenty-five years old, tall and well 
shaped, with features indicative of refinement and intelli- 
;gence, whose parents lived in Missouri. The prisoners 
told their story and plead for their lives. After talking 
the matter over, Eddington was satisfied the '' pass " was 
genuine, and told them the only thing he could do was to 
pass them out of his tent by the rear, while his men were 
ordered away, and advised them to " run for it " to the 
river bank, where they would find a regular company of 
Confederate cavalry, commanded by a Captain Gillespie. 
His men, so he said, were much exasperated over the loss 
of some of their comrades, captured in a recent skirmish 
with colored troops, and who had been shot. 

A Colonel Jones, an officer in the Confederate service, 
wounded at Shiloh, owner of some four thousand acres of 
•cleared land along the Tensas River and vicinity, invited 
them to his house and provided supper and sleeping apart- 
.ments. Colonel Jones knew they were paroled Federal 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 415 

prisoners on the way to Natchez, and the reason of his 
hospitality was unfolded when he called Hersey aside and 
requested him to inform General Tuttle at Natchez, with 
the utmost secresy, that three hundred bales of cotton were 
on the way down Black River ^ coiiiing from Colofiel Jones. 

The three men started shortly after sunrise, on Monday, 
May 9th, for Natchez, expecting to walk the distance that 
day. The danger of again encountering guerrilla bands 
was all they had to fear. By nightfall they were within 
hearing of the evening guns from the forts around Vidalia. 
While walking rapidly along the road three United States 
colored cavalry-men, in a menacing manner, ordered them 
to halt, and demanded to know who they were. No 
explanation would be believed by these wide-awake sol- 
diers, who marched the prisoners into town to the provost- 
marshal's ofBce, where the mistake was rectified, and they 
received good treatment at the only hotel in the place. 
At Natchez, the following morning, their appearance in 
such ridiculous clothes as they wore created considerable 
commotion in the streets. Whenever they stopped a crowd 
of curious people gathered around, enabling Wentworth, 
with his fertile genius for story telling, to relate in a most 
thrilling manner the story of their escape, embellished 
with a few deeds of bloodshed and heroic action. A Mr. 
Marsh, in charge of the New England Aid Society store^ 
offered to clothe them, but the offer was declined, as the 
Quartermaster Department provided for them. 

From Natchez the three escaped men were sent to 
Vicksburg, and from there got transportation to Wash- 
ington, by way of Cairo. Williams parted company with 
Wentworth and Hersey at Cairo, not desirous to go on to 
Washington, and remained to seek employment upon the 
transport-steamers on the river ; Wentworth and Hersey 
proceeded to Washington, obtained their pay without 



.414 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

trouble, and reached Boston, home again, June ist, 1864, 
having passed over sixteen months of their lives as pris- 
oners of war. 

Charles Williams, "Transport," was last heard from 
May 24th, 1864, when he was furnished transportation 
from Chicago to Utica, New York, by a United States 
quartermaster, as Williams claimed to be a private of 
Company D, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, on sick leave, granted by Brigadier- General 
'Tuttle. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 415 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

"Officers in Confederate Prisons — Houston — State 
Prison — Camp Groce — Camp Ford — En- Route 
Home — At Home. 

SOON after the enlisted men (Galveston prisoners of 
war) were paroled and left for the Federal lines, the 
j 'Officers retained at Houston were joined (January 25th) 
! by one hundred and nine prisoners taken at Sabine 
! Pass, officers and crews of the U. S. sailing vessels 
Morning Light and Velocity. Among them were Acting 
Masters Dillingham, Fowler and Washburn, Masters-Mates 
Chambers and Rice, Acting Assistant-Surgeon J. W. Shrify, 
and Captain Hammond of the Velocity. 

These two successful ventures (Galveston and Sabine 
Pass) elated the Texans, giving them a confidence in their 
j .prowess that expressed itself in constant jubilations. " We 
I Texans are whales," remarked by one of them to a pris- 
oner, was but an index of opinions they all entertained. 

The officers were allowed liberty of the city, on their 
parole -of -honor, for about a week or ten days after 
reaching Houston, when this privilege was withdrawn, and 
they were kept in close confinement. This freedom was 
not improved further than to purchase supplies. Union 
men had secretly cautioned them not to go out in the then 
•excited state of feeling among the people, who thought 
Jianging was good enough for Federal officers. A watch 
was upon every one who evinced a desire to show the 
Federals any attention. One man, who gave them a stove, 



41 6 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

was thrown into confinement. Another man, a storekeeper^ j 
had Colonel Burrell dine with him at home, but did not 
dare to visit the officers in their quarters. In conversa- 
tion with the provost-marshal on this state of feeling, that 
official said they were safe from any trouble while under 
guard, for the army did not wish any harm to come to 
them, because there was no telling when they would find 
themselves in the same predicament ; still the prisoners 
were chary of trust in either army or people, and at night 
barricaded their prison-apartment door with what chairs 
they had ; each man armed himself with a stick of wood 
for defence, if an occasion arose. 

There were men in Houston who secretly passed into the 
officers' hands a sufficient amount of Confederate bills to 
supply their needful wants. Prominent in this good work 
was a Mr. H. W, Benchley, who was lieutenant-governor 
of Massachusetts in 1855. The money thus obtained was 
of the greatest benefit at the time, enabling many neces- 
saries to be procured. The names of all these men are 
not known. Many were former citizens of Massachusetts, 
whose hearts were not alienated from the old Bay State. 
There was a slumbering affection for the United States 
Government, kept in abeyance from fear of the Confeder- 
ate authorities, who, it has been proved beyond a question, 
were wont to treat with severity every man suspected of 
sympathy with the Federal Government. 

The prisoners' quarters would have been tolerable com- 
fortable had any decent arrangements been made to take 
care of excrements, made by Confederate soldiers and Fed- 
eral prisoners. The lower stories were occupied by troops, 
the upper story by prisoners, who had to stand all bad 
odor that ascended from below. Rations issued, while not 
what the prisoners would like, nor, in fact, such as Northeri 
people would consider fit to eat, were quite as good as th( 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 4T7 

authorities issued to their own troops, accustomed to that 
kind of food. To become accustomed to "corn-meal 
coffee " and coarse "corn-dodger" was hard work. Food 
was issued to last ten days at a time, and had to do so. 
Each man was expected to fare no better than his fellows. 
No trouble occurred until Stone and Dillingham helped 
themselves one day, out of meal hours, to ginger-bread 
laid aside. Some personal feeling was engendered when 
they were remonstrated with, and the Confederate provost- 
marshal issued an order that made Colonel Burrell com- 
mander of the Federal prisoners. An effort was made to 
draw up a code of regulations all would agree to be 
governed by, but no committee could be found to do this 
duty. Colonel Burrell was obliged to exercise a supervi- 
sion over all matters material to their welfare, until he left 
Houston. 

Ennui of confinement, in January, February and March, 
was somewhat abated by singing, card playing, drills in 
sword exercise, with sticks of wood for weapons, and gym- 
nastic exercises. On and after February 12th they were 
allowed two hours a day, under guard, to stroll around the 
city and outskirts, generally to cross Buffalo Bayou and 
play ball upon the prairie land, free of annoyance from 
citizens. This privilege was granted on a medical certifi- 
cate from Surgeon Cummings, stating such liberty was 
absolutely necessary, and consent obtained of General 
Magruder, through Surgeon Peples, medical director of 
the Department, with whom Cummings was on intimate 
terms. 

The Houston Telegraph was eagerly read every mornings 
and each item relating to exchange of prisoners or their 
parole was sought for and noted. They could get little 
satisfactory information from its columns concerning the 
situation of military affairs ; according to its " pony express 



4i8 

news," victories were always with the Southern arms, and 
such victories ! Bo77ibastes Fiirioso could not have done 
better than did the publisher of this newspaper. 

Among the frequent visitors was Major Shannon, C. S. 
A., who did his best to make everything pleasant, also a 
Captain Chubb, formerly from Charlestown, Mass., then a 
resident of Texas. Chubb was captured early in the war 
by Federals, and confined in Fort Lafayette for over a 
year. He was much given to boasting, and could utter 
more oaths in one sentence than any man the prisoners 
ever heard. Notwithstanding his boasts, bluster, and 
intense fire-eating proclivities, he was always found to be 
pleasant, agreeable company, kind and generous at heart, 
ever ready to do the prisoners a favor. He did contribute 
money to the officers' fund in a quiet way. Other visitors 
were a Mr. Whitcomb, formerly of Roxbury, Mass., and a 
Mr. Stearns, of Waltham, Mass., then an engineer on the 
Galveston and Houston Railroad. 

Acting-Master Munroe, wounded upon the Harriet Lane\ 
died January 30th, and was buried next day^ the funeral 
being attended by all of the naval officers present. Cor- 
poral Mcintosh, Company D, died February loth, in 
hospital, at six p.m., and was buried next day in the after- 
noon. The officers made a neat head-board to mark his 
grave. March 26th Private O'Shaughnessy, Company D, 
made his first appearance, on crutches, since losing his legi 
at Galveston. April 6th Private Josselyn, Company D, 
wounded at Galveston, was discharged from hospital 

On the twenty-ninth of April an order came from Gen- 
eral Magruder to send all commissioned officers to thd 
State Penitentiary at Huntsville, there to be kept in close 
confinement until further orders. This order, so it was! 
stated, came from Richmond, and was to place in confine- 
ment all captured officers that were in General Butler's, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 419 

army, and was said to be in retaliation for a similar act of 
the Federal authorities. None of the officers came from 
Butler's army ; General Banks had superseded him, and 
the 42 d Mass. was acting under Banks' orders. Without 
any regular order from General Banks in his possession, 
Colonel Burrell was unable to make the authorities under- 
stand this fact, or more likely they chose not to understand 
it. All colored men in the captured crews of the Harriet 
Lane and Mornmg Light had previously been sent to this 
prison, to do convict duty. An intimation of some pro- 
ceeding like this was given on the nineteenth. 

Under escort of a cavalry detachment the officers pro- 
ceeded to the Texas Central Railroad depot to take a 
special freight car, at nine o'clock a.m. Dinner was eaten 
at Cypress City, twent3^-five miles from Houston, and at 
half-past four p.m. they reached Navasota, where quarters 
were provided for nineteen officers in one room eighteen 
feet square, at the Morning Star Hotel. SujDper and 
breakfast cost them two dollars each. After breakfast 
next morning, and a friendly shake of the hand by Gen- 
eral Sam. Houston, who promised to call at their new 
quarters and see them, at quarter-past six o'clock they 
took four wagons, with mule teams, provided to make the 
journey to their destination, forty-five miles distant, and 
arrived at the prison about noon May ist, where the 
information was imparted that they were to be confined in 
separate cells. A protest was drawn up, signed by all, 
and Surgeon Cummings, with Frank Veazie, non-com- 
batants, returned with the same to Houston. This was 
not a May-day festival for the prisoners. 

In this old-fashioned prison, with none of the conven- 
iences now in use, convicts were employed at the shop in 
manufacturing cotton cloth for the Confederate Govern- 
ment, a Mr. Chandler, from Massachusetts, acting as super- 



42 O HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

intendent of the factory. Life was enjoyed somewhat after 
this routine : after the convicts had gone to work, the 
officers were released from their cells and allowed to do 
as they pleased in the yard until dinner hour, when they 
returned to their cells, to be released again after the con- 
victs had eaten their dinner and returned to work. This rule 
was in force for nine days only, when Colonel Carruthers 
obtained a supply of lumber, had cots made in a room in 
the upper story of the prison building facing the street, and 
this room, on and after May 9th, was occupied by all of 
the officers for a sleeping apartment. Regular prison fare 
was provided on the first day, when Colonel Carruthers, 
in charge of the prison, a humane man, informed his 
military prisoners he would shoulder the responsibility 
and give them meals at his own table, although without 
authority to do so. After this no complaint could be made 
on that score. Confined a few nights in small, hot cells, 
afterwards in the large room, was the extent of their 
inconvenience until released from prison June 27th, nearly 
two months from the day they entered prison walls. Gen- 
eral Houston, Mrs. Houston, their two daughters and 
son, Andrew Jackson Houston, frequently visited the 
officers and entertained them so far as lay in their power. 
Old Sam, seventy years old, straight as an arrow, was a 
very interesting entertainer, with enlivening conversation 
of his experience in the United States Senate. 

The officers subjected to the indignity of a prison 
confinement by the Confederate officials were : Colonel 
Burrell, Captains Sherive, Proctor and Savage, Lieutenants i 
Cowdin, White, Eddy, Newcomb, Bartlett and Stowell, 
42d Mass. Vols. ; Masters Hamilton and Hannum, Engi- 
neers Plunkett and Stone, of the Ha7'riet Lane; Mas-j 
ters Dillingham, Fowler and Washburn, Masters-Mates] 
Chambers and Rice, Purser's Clerk Van Wycke, of thej 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 42 I 

Morning Light; Captain Hammond, of the Velocity. The 
three last-named were not brought to prison until May 14th. 

Engineers Plunkett and Stone were taken to court, held 
in Houston June loth, to testify in the case of a man who 
was on trial for repairing the boilers of the Harriet Lane 
while she lay in front of Galveston. Plunkett refused to 
testify and was placed in jail for contempt of court, but 
soon after released. 

After Magruder sent these officers to Huntsville prison, 
with orders to have them treated as prisoners of war in 
confinement and not as felons, a controversy arose between 
the State and military authorities over the right of the 
latter to send prisoners of war to the penitentiary. The 
result was their transfer to a new camp established for war 
prisoners at Hempstead, called Camp Groce. 

Leaving behind Colonel Burrell, sick with rheumatism, 
under care of Captain Sherive, the other officers left 
Huntsville June 27th for Camp Groce, under escort of a 
cavalry guard commanded by Captain Cundiff. Trans- 
portation back to Navasota was in wagons, with three 
extra wagons, hired at ten dollars a day from each man, 
to carry their baggage. Twelve miles were made on the 
first day, and sleeping accommodations found at night in 
an old school-house, having dinner and supper from rations 
provided by kind Mrs. Carruthers. Twenty-one miles were 
travelled the second day, at night bivouacking under trees 
in a splendid moonlight, and Navasota was reached on the 
twenty-ninth, about noon. There they remained until the 
thirtieth, when cars were taken for Camp Groce, which 
place was reached at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. 

Until removed to Camp Groce the few enlisted men 
42 d Mass., left behind at Houston, were quartered in a 
large warehouse used for storage of general merchandise, 
in company with sailors composing the Morning Light 



42 2 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

crew. These sailors were a motley crowd, comprising 
men from nearly every nation : Irish, English, Dutch, 
Spanish, Greek, Italian, and two South Sea Islanders. 
They did not mind captivity, apparently thought of noth- 
ing beyond amusement. Occasionally they got put in 
irons for some misdemeanor or violation of rules, but no 
sooner were the irons riveted upon their ankles than off 
they were filed by comrades, to be again put on when an 
officer of the day came around to call the roll. One night 
three of these rollicking sailors broke away from the build- 
ing and went on a spree, with some of Captain Clipper's 
men. While on a raid through the city, mounted on 
horses, they all rode into a bar-room and were captured 
by the provost-guard, brought back to quarters, and placed 
in irons that had no terrors for them. 

Several prisoners recently captured in Louisiana were 
brought in June ist, and three more June 9th, taken at 
Franklin, La. One of these new prisoners, Hugh Dolan, 
became a great favorite with the sailors immediately on 
arrival on account of his wonderful vocal abilities, so 
they thought, and light-hearted manner. One of his 
favorite songs was " Bowld Jack Donahoe," and whenever 
he sang this song his nautical audience would listen with 
the most profound attention. 

What the "boys" considered an affliction was the re- 
moval of their kind-hearted and friendly "old guard,"; 
Captain Clipper's company, ordered to Galveston June 
9th. Another company, commanded by Captain Buster, 
had for some time assisted Captain Clipper in guarding 
the prisoners, and remained to do that duty. The men of 
this company were not liked very much by any of their 
charge ; none of that cordial feeling existed as had been 
the case with the " old guard." They were a despicable 
set of fellows. Captain Buster, a mild, pleasant man,, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 423 

lacked energy and was too indolent to pay much atten- 
tion to the discipline of his men. His first-lieutenant, 
^Morgan, was a bombastic and disagreeable man, who paid 
little attention to his prisoners. This guard remained on 
duty until September i8th, when militia relieved them. 

Floating rumors in regard to removal up country were 
verified on the thirteenth of June, when all prisoners in 
Houston were taken by railroad to Camp Groce, enjoying 
an all-day ride upon platform freight cars, without shelter 
from a hot sun. Their new home was a long, narrow 
frame barrack, leaky in rainy weather, divided into three 
compartments, situated about three hundred yards from 
the railroad, in the centre of a dry, sandy clearing, with a 
few trees left for shade. This clearing was surrounded by 
a belt of woods on all sides but one, and near by was a 
sluggish body of swamp water bordered by cypress trees. 
The place was supplied with bad water from two deep 
wells. Another row of barracks, occupied by the guard, 
ran almost parallel to those occupied by prisoners, at 
about two hundred yards distance. A few frame build- 
ings between these barracks and the railroad served as 
quarters for Confederate officers. 

The location of Camp Groce was decidedly unhealthy, 
and had been abandoned by Confederate troops as a 
camp of instruction for this reason. Arrangement of 
sinks was bad, not at all conducive to health. Sickness 
prevailed to such an extent there were not enough men 
able to watch and properly attend their sick companions. 
When a person stops to think of what has to be done in 
cases where patients are too weak to move themselves, with 
primitive utensils at hand to perform necessary acts, it is 
a wonder how prisoners in this hospital camp managed to 
exist. Each sick man remained with his mess for care 
and attention. Hospital accommodations were not pro- 



42 4 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

vided, except what was in the town reserved for exclusive 
use of Confederates. 

All through August, September, October and part of 
November, the dull monotony of prison life wore on 
unattended by any hopeful news or enlivening sensations. 
Communications were forwarded to General Banks, the 
Secretary of War, and General Meredith, Federal Com- 
missioner for the exchange of prisoners, on the subject of 
being paroled or exchanged. None of the prisoners then 
understood vv^hy the Federal Government did not do some- 
thing in their behalf. They were informed by Colonel 
Sayles, who formerly commanded at Camp Groce, that 
repeated efforts had been made by the Confederate authori- 
ties to induce the Federal Government to exchange them, 
but the Federal authorities repeatedly refused to listen to 
any propositions towards that end, also stating that the 
Confederates were as anxious to get rid of their prisoners 
as they were to go, and placed the responsibility tor their 
continued captivity on the Federal Government. This 
misstatement of facts naturally caused some animosity of 
feeling among the prisoners towards their own Govern- 
ment, losing strength each day, with sickness and death 
constantly staring them in the face. They were not aware 
of the obstruction existing to interrupt an exchange of 
prisoners ; that the Government was fighting with the 
enemy for a principle, the placing of negro soldiers on a 
par with white troops, entitled to the common usages of 
war when taken prisoners. 

On the eighteenth of October a strict search was made 
through the barracks, for what purpose the prisoners were 
not informed, but surmised it was to ascertain if any 
parties in the State, Houston in particular, had compro- 
mised themselves by writing them. News of the arrest of 
Union men, especially in Houston, was often heard. In 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 425 

this search all money was taken away under a promise of 
return, and a receipt given. Writings, diaries and letters 
were seized, never to be seen again. 

A stockade was built in October completely encircling 
the camp, made so high escape by climbing would be 
impossible, and the prisoners became down-hearted at this 
indication of a possible lengthy stay, when, on the six- 
teenth of November, after most of the men had retired for 
the night, Colonel Burrell entered the barracks with news 
that all were to be paroled as soon as the papers could be 
made out. Wild excitement prevailed on the announce- 
ment of these joyous tidings, and the night was passed 
without sleep, amid cheers, yells, and frantic demonstra- 
tions of delight. 

All hands commenced to get ready, by disposing of 
^' traps " they could spare to purchasers easily found 
among the guard and citizens. Parole papers were signed 
by the enlisted men November 20th, and the march for 
three hundred miles to Shreveport, La., commenced Decem- 
ber 9th. On December nth the officers were removed to 
Camp Ford, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, well understand- 
ing they must keep up courage until the new year came 
in, and manage in some way to get through approaching 
•winter, ill-prepared as they were to stand cold weather, 
from having disposed of many necessary articles of cloth- 
ing to obtain money to purchase food while on their way 
to the Federal lines, when they expected to go with the 
enlisted men. 

The following record of sundry events at Camp Groce 
was culled from several diaries : 

"July 4th — Celebrated in the best manner possible 
under the circumstances, and was dull enough. The day 
was not recognized by the Confederates. July nth — A 
battalion of conscripts arrived in camp ; most of them 



426 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

Germans and Mexicans. July 30th — Barracks look like 
a hospital. Six officers sick abed, and out of one hundred 
men sixty are in the same condition. Not a man is in 
good health; all are ailing, though those not in bed have 
to keep up and about to attend the others. Impossible 
to procure suitable medicines even with money collected 
among the prisoners to obtain medical supplies ; none 
furnished by the authorities. August ist — Colonel Nott,. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne and Lieutenant Sherman, 
176th N.Y.; Captain Van Tyne, 131st N.Y.; Lieutenants 
Bassett and Wilson, 48th Mass. ; Lieutenant Humble, 4th 
Mass. ; and seven civilians, captured at Brashear City and 
on the La-Fourche, arrived in camp. After these arrivals 
Sunday services were held. Colonels Nott or Duganne 
officiating.' August 6th — Colonel Burrell and Captain 
Sherive arrived from Huntsville State Prison. September 
14th — Two hundred and twenty prisoners arrived in 
camp, taken at Sabine Pass on the tenth instant. The 
wounded arrived September 30th. Particulars of this 
engagement, furnished by the captives, caused everybody 
to feel sorrowful and chagrined. September 26th — A 
sailor was fired on while playing ball, because he went 
too near the picket line ; he was not hit. October 5th 
— Twenty officers attached to the U. S. gunboats Clifton 
and Sachem arrived in camp from Sabine Pass and were 
confined in separate quarters, not allowed to hold any 
conversation or communication with other prisoners for 
some time. October 27th — Four prisoners arrived, cap- 
tured in Louisiana. 

A total of four officers and eighteen men died at Camp 
Groce ; ten or twelve were sailors. Ship Carpenter Morris, 
of the Harriet Lane ^ sixty years old, died July 19th. Lieu- 
tenant Ramsey, 175th N. Y., died October nth; he was 
sick with consumption, but dysentery was the immediate 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 427 

cause of death. Lieutenant Hayes, 175th N. Y., was found 
dead in his bunk October i6th. 

The following officers and men of the 4.26. died at Camp 
Groce, viz. : 

August ist — Private Dennis Dailey, Company D. He 
was a great favorite with sailors of the Morning Lights 
with whom he generally associated. 

August 22d — Lieutenant Bartlett, Company I, at one 
o'clock A.M., of dysentery, after a short illness. 

September 3d — Private E. F. Josselyn, Company D, in 
the afternoon, of dysentery, after a long illness. 

September 9th — Surgeon Cummings, in the afternoon. 
He was in failing health for a month, and was unconscious 
for some days previous to his death. The burial took 
place next day with Masonic rites, attended by Federal and 
Confederate Freemasons. Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne 
conducted the ceremonies. 

Private Parker, Company G, was left sick in Hempstead 
Hospital. He died December 14th, 1863. 

The guard over the officers who marched from Camp 
Groce to Camp Ford was commanded by Captain Davis, 
who marched them sixteen to seventeen miles a day over 
the sandy and hilly roads. The march usually commenced 
at seven a.m. and ended for the day between two and 
three o'clock p.m. The weather was pleasant and cool 
nearly every day, but cold at night. They got caught in 
two rain-storms, and wet through. The officers arrived at 
Camp Ford about two o'clock p.m., December 2 2d, after 
a twelve days' tramp. 

At Camp Ford the prisoners already there, mostly 
Western men, had built log cabins and were quite com- 
fortable under the circumstances. The so-called 42d 
mansion was built in a few days, with help and aid from 
two officers of the 19th Iowa who understood the way to 



425 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

construct log cabins. Within this cabin, before a roaring 
log fire, while rain, snow and hail reigned without, were 
passed the closing days of 1863. Snow blew into the 
cabin, wetting blankets through, and fell an inch deep 
upon the ground outside. 

The first three months of 1864 were wearisome, with 
constant and conflicting rumors of parole or exchange, and 
occasional news of officers who had been exchanged, a sub- 
ject of all-absorbing interest to everybody. No descrip- 
tion of the life they led can afford an adequate idea of 
the torments to mind and body, their hopes and fears for 
the future, and constant struggle to make the best of their 
situation until a change came. Northern papers frequently 
found their way inside the stockade to be greedily devoured 
for news, as they were passed around from one to another. 
A newspaper from home was like a visiting angel. South- 
ern papers were in camp every week. A tolerable correct 
idea of what was going on in the outside world, political 
and military, was sifted from these papers, aided by informa- 
tion obtained from Confederate officers. 

To kill time the prisoners occupied themselves in repairs 
and improvements on quarters for business, and visits to 
brother officers, singing and dancing, for recreation. A 
violin, purchased by subscription for one hundred and ten 
dollars Confederate money, Captain May, 23d Conn., as 
violinist, and a banjo made in camp and played by Engi- 
neer R. W. Mars, of the gunboat Diana^ accompanied by 
a flute manipulated by Captain Thomason, 176th N. Y., 
and a fife by E. J. Collins, made a select orchestra to 
furnish appropriate music for the dances. Gardens were 
started early in February, when corn, mustard, lettuce, 
watermelons, squashes, onions and cotton was planted. 
Corn and onions showed above ground early in March. 
A system of barter and exchange in various articles was 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 429 

carried on among the prisoners, affording a means to keep 
their wits at work if no money was made out of the trans- 
actions. A newspaper was published, The Old Flag^ edited 
and printed by Captain May, the printing done with a 
pen. Editions were issued February 17th, March ist and 
13th, that afforded great interest to the camp. Only one 
copy was issued of each number, to be passed around, 
read and returned to the captain. It has yet to be recorded 
at what post, where Confederate prisoners were confined, 
did they show so much versatility in amusing themselves 
as was shown by Federal prisoners in all parts of the 
South. 

The birthday of Washington, February 2 2d, was duly 
celebrated. All expenses were met by a subscription 
among the officers in confinement. Lieutenant-Colonel J. 
B. Leake, 20th Iowa, delivered an oration, followed by an 
original poem, written in camp by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Duganne. In the afternoon an election was held for 
Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Inspector of Insane 
Asylums of Camp Ford, to carry on a species of fun con- 
cocted at the expense of half-witted Sam Morton, a Kansas 
soldier. Sam was elected Governor, and then taken in a 
chair through the camp with great eclat. Fine singing by 
a glee club and a grand ball in the evening closed the 
celebration. 

Pending the result of efforts constantly made to obtain 
a parole or exchange, attempts to escape were made at 
various times. Two officers of the 26th Indiana, Lieu- 
tenants Greene and Switzer, were missed at roll-call Janu- 
ary 1 2th, and a pursuit made. The escape of these two 
officers, some two weeks before this, was known to a few 
comrades, who concealed their absence from roll-calls by 
answering for them. At last it was decided to let their 
escape become known. At roll-call their names were not 



430 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

answered, when a Confederate officer innocently asked : 
" Does any one know where Greene and Switzer are ? " 
An answer was given, with a laugh, " Guess they have gone 
for a pair of shoes." The two officers were afterwards 
heard from as having arrived in New Orleans after a walk 
of some three hundred miles, done in a month and two 
days. They gave newspaper men, for publication, a detailed 
account of their tramp, with names of parties who had 
helped them along. This published account came into 
Confederate hands, and was used as an excuse for perse- 
cuting those Union friends. 

On a rainy night, March 24th, Colonel Rose and four- 
teen other officers escaped early in the evening, by sliding 
aside a stockade post. From a neglect to replace the post 
discovery of the escape soon followed, and an alarm at 
once sounded. Mounted men, with bloodhounds, were 
immediately on their track. Four men were brought back 
next day, recaptured after they had walked twenty miles, 
and nine more were retaken on the twenty-seventh. One 
man succeeded in making good his bold dash for liberty. 
This attempt to escape was contemplated for some time ; 
those in the plot secretly prepared parched meal and dry 
beef to carry for food. Another attempt was in progress, 
suggested by reading in a paper of an escape by officers j 
from Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., by the tunnel process. 
From the 42 d cabin, it was calculated a tunnel fifty feet 
long would carry them outside of the stockade. It was a 
double cabin, one-half occupied by Captain May's mess, 
also the editor's sanctum of the Old Flag. A commence- 
ment was made March 21st, the earth taken out secreted 
underneath bunks and carried outside when an opportu- 
nity offered ; the opening was covered by a bunk when 
work was suspended. Men in this plot had worked a hole 
twenty-one feet under ground March 24th, when the origi- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 43 1 

nal stockade line was removed to enlarge the camp, and 
an order was received by Colonel Allen, the commandant, 
to shoot at sight any prisoner caught in attempting escape. 
These two facts caused the attempt to be abandoned. 

Colonel Allen was an old engineer officer in the United 
States Army, and like all regular army officers disposed to 
treat his prisoners as men. This disposition to do all in 
his power to ameliorate their sufferings probably caused 
his removal May 27th, a Colonel Anderson assuming com- 
mand of the post. The policy pursued by Anderson, or 
rather a drunken lieutenant-colonel under him who took 
charge of all matters appertaining to the prisoners, was in 
an opposite direction. 

Camp Ford was blessed with good water and situated 
upon high ground, an improvement over Camp Groce. 
Yet the stockade interior was filthy, without any system 
of sinks or police of grounds. This was the fault of the 
prisoners, a lazy, careless, motley crowd, not disposed to 
take hold of such work. Colonel Allen left such matters 
to those inside the stockade. Officers who saw the neces- 
sity of a system in hygienic matters soon gave up in disgust 
the attempt to force an organization for this purpose. As 
is usual in such a collection of men, refusing to recognize 
any superior authority except their guards, it was each man 
for himself and the devil take the hindmost. 

Among the imprisoned officers were several lieutenant- 
colonels and majors. Colonel Burrell was one of the three 
officers of his rank. As a matter of pride, to uphold the 
dignity of his commission, what many officers signally failed 
to do, Colonel Burrell was always scrupulously polite to 
Colonel Allen, never visited him except in full uniform, 
transacting all business with that officer in a business 
manner, and so gained his esteem and regard. Burrell 
maintained that the rules in force should be respected and 



432 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

obeyed — he would insist on their obeyance were he in 
command of such a camp — and by maintaining dignified 
relations with the commandant was enabled several times 
to secure a rescission of harsh orders issued by Colonel 
Allen, in consequence of foolish speeches and acts done 
by brainless fools in the stockade. 

No medicines, no special accommodations nor post sur- 
geon were provided at Camp Ford. Surgeons Sherfy, 
I St Indiana, and Hershy, U. S. Colored Volunteers, did all 
in their power for the sick, and that could not be much. 
An old surgeon in the Confederate service, formerly of the 
U. S. regulars, would occasionally visit the stockade and 
render some service. To him Colonel Burrell owes his 
life, when threatened with an attack of typhoid fever. 

The commandant's wife, Mrs. Allen, was a visitor to the 
officers' quarters at various times, frequently accompanied 
by other ladies. The good impression this lady made by 
her visits resulted in a poem, written by Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Duganne, published in The Old Flag, issue No. 3, 
March i8th, 1864. 

The arrival of captured prisoners to increase the inhabi- 
tants of this stockade town, taken from various soldiers' 
diaries, were : January 22d — Captains Coulter and Torrey, 
20th Iowa, captured at Arkansas Bay, Texas, December 
19th, 1863. March 5th — Six enlisted men captured at 
Powder Horn, January 22d, March 30th — Between six 
and seven hundred prisoners arrived from Shreveport, 
where they were awaiting exchange. They were a hard- 
looking lot of human beings, many without shirts or 
shoes, with trousers torn, ragged, or hanging in shreds. 
Among them were Privates Morrill, O'Shaughnessy and 
McLaughlin, of the 42 d. They left Shreveport March 
26th. Frank Veazie was sick in a Shreveport hospital. 
He died the following May. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 433 

About sixteen hundred prisoners, captured at Pleasant 
Hill, La., arrived April i6th, 17th, i8th and 20th. To 
accommodate these hungry men all hands had to keep 
their cooking apparatus at work on corn meal until they 
were fed. The appearance these prisoners made could 
not have been equalled in Falstaff's time. Confederate 
soldiers robbed them of clothing, sometimes with threats 
of violence if property wanted by these greedy men was 
not handed over for the asking. The prisoners did not 
seem to mind it, and laughingly said they would square 
accounts whenever the Confederates fell into their hands 
as prisoners of war. They thought it rather rough to be 
placed in a pen like a flock of sheep, without food or 
shelter. Still, nothing better could be expected, because 
the Confederates had no other safe place to guard their 
prisoners. When arrangements could be completed, they 
were made as comfortable as the limited means at hand 
would allow. 

During May about eighteen hundred prisoners came in, 
thirteen hundred captured in Arkansas; June 6th, one 
hundred ; and July 6th, another batch of one hundred and 
eighty prisoners from Banks' army were brought in. The 
old prisoners commenced to think, from the continued 
arrivals of officers and men of the 19th Army Corps, per- 
haps the entire corps would eventually be captured. 

Through May, June, and up to July 9th, it cannot be 
said the death rate was large, received as the men were in 
all conditions of health and sickness. Six privates died 
in May, and one was killed by a sentry; five died in June ; 
five died July 1st. 

With the prisoners were Chaplains Robb, 46th Indiana 
Vols., Hare, — th Iowa Vols., and McCulloch, 19th Ken- 
tucky Vols., who labored hard among the men to excite a 
religious sentiment, holding frequent prayer meetings, and 



434 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

administered the rites of baptism to several, among them 
Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, 42d Mass., on May 22d. 
These religious services met with the approval of Colonel 
Allen, who was a devout Free Will Baptist. 

Some talk was made about overpowering the guard, 
nearly one thousand men, composed of poor material. 
An insurmountable difficulty was to provide a store of 
food, for use when free, and a sufficient supply of arms 
and ammunition, for they were nearly three hundred miles 
from any safe place. Nothing was done, as it was useless 
to try it. Next to parole or exchange the idea of escape 
occupied the most attention. Naturally officers in com- 
mand of guards were always on the lookout for anything 
tending towards preparations in that direction. In Feb- 
ruary about one hundred officers were drilled in the sabre 
exercise by Major Anthony, 2d R. I. Cavalry, for instruc- 
tion and pleasure, using sticks in lieu of swords, but the 
post-commander summarily put a stop to it within a few 
days after these drills commenced. 

Attempts to escape commenced again with fresh arrivals ; 
five men got away at night June 9th, to be recaptured and 
returned next day. Several officers succeeded in making 
a break for freedom at night, July 2d, but were discovered 
and fired on by the guard. Nearly all of them were recap- 
tured next day. Captain Reed, Missouri Vols., was made 
to stand bare-headed upon a stump near the guard-house 
for several hours in the hot sun, as punishment for his 
attempted escape. 

Early in June rumors of parole and exchange again 
began to be circulated within the stockade. Confederate 
officers from Shreveport visited the prison camp more fre- 
quently than they had heretofore done, to make out lists 
and rolls of prisoners and time of cajoture. News brought 
by Colonel Allen and the tenor of letters received from 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 435 

surgeons, gone forward for exchange, raised a hope within 
the breasts of those long confined that there would not be 
a disappointment this time. When the chaplains, sur- 
geons, and citizens not connected with the army, were 
paroled and started for Shreveport June 19th, hope grew 
into certainty. On the fifth of July, after what was termed 
a glorious Fourth-of-July celebration, the joyful news was 
brought in the stockade, by Colonel Burrell, that a parol- 
ing officer had arrived, and their day of deliverance was 
at hand. 

Through this captivity letters from home came at long 
intervals, with news they were anxious to receive. Dates 
when letters were received by the 42 d officers are as 
follows: March 12th, July 29th and August 26th, 1863; 
March i8th, June loth, 13th and 23d, 1864. Letters 
received June loth were for Captain Savage and Lieu- 
tenant Newcomb, dated February 28th and March 4th. 
Captain Proctor had letters from his father and wife dated 
May 1 2th and 23d, 1863, over a year old, as they were not 
delivered to him until June 13th, 1864. After men arrived 
from Banks' army, men who belonged in Boston and 
vicinity made themselves known to Colonel Burrell and 
brother officers, some of whom had within a few months 
arrived from home and could give them tolerably late 
news from that section. 

Clothing was furnished once by Confederate officers, at 
Hempstead, October 17th, 1863; from that time onward 
what the prisoners wore had to stand the wear and tear of 
time and use. Previous to July, in anticipation another 
winter would not be passed as prisoners, whoever had 
overcoats and extra clothing sold the garments for high 
prices in Confederate money, and thus obtained means to 
purchase extra supplies for their messes. 

One thing should not be forgotten in connection with 



436 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

this long, tedious imprisonment : the love of country exist- 
ing in every manly heart, despite his feeling at times the 
Government did neglect him. This patriotism was not 
the kind flaunted before audiences by spread-eagle polit- 
ical orators, all froth and no substance, but an honest, 
earnest, deep-seated love, ready to suffer for her cause at 
all times, resenting any flings or insults to its flag, giving 
voice to sentiments within them by singing national songs 
and celebrations of important days in her history. 

July 7th and 8th were devoted to baking hard bread, 
for use on the march, and at last the prisoners, who were 
up at three o'clock in the morning preparing breakfast and 
getting their few "traps" ready, left the stockade to march 
for Shreveport, homeward bound. There were nine hun- 
dred and thirty officers and men, divided into one column 
of officers and two columns of enlisted men, with a kind 
and considerate Confederate cavalry guard, commanded 
by Major Smith and Captain Tucker. Guard and pris- 
oners fared alike in food and slept in the open air at 
night : tents were not carried with them. Extreme hot 
weather prevailed, yet the prisoners managed to cover a 
respectable number of miles each day, crossing the Sabine 
River on the first day and sleeping upon its banks at night, 
with a record of twenty-one miles. The marching column 
reached Shreveport about noon on the thirteenth, without 
the loss of a man by death, having made nineteen miles 
July loth, twenty-three miles on the eleventh, twenty-four 
miles on the twelfth, and sixteen miles on the thirteenth. 
Sick and worn-out men were sent by the Marshall and 
Shreveport Railroad on the twelfth, and this railroad also 
transported a portion of the prisoners on the thirteenth. 
About twenty officers hired a six-mule team for five hun- 
dred Confederate dollars, to carry them on the last day's 
journey, and rode into camp in great style. Each morn- 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 437 

ing the men were up between three and four o'clock, 
commenced the march within an hour after, plodding 
steadily along until eleven, when a rest was taken until 
two o'clock, then the march again resumed until evening. 

At Mugginsville, one mile from Shreveport, the pris- 
oners remained until July i6th, when they were sent on 
board steamers Osceola, General Hodges and B. L. Hodge, 
bound for Alexandria, where they arrived at dusk July 
1 8th, above the dam built by Federals to save their naval 
vessels in April and May, 1864, and were disembarked to 
camp in woods by the river side until the twenty-first, when 
steamers were ready below the dam to carry them on to 
the journey's end. Three men died July i8th, and were 
buried near a spot upon the banks where lay the remains 
of several Federal sailors. 

All hands were up at daylight July 21st. At seven 
o'clock they marched two miles to Alexandria, crossed 
Red River on a pontoon bridge and embarked upon 
steamers Champion No. j and Relf, bound for the mouth 
of Red River. An extract from a diary, kept by an 
officer of the 42d Mass., is here given : 

"July 22d, 1864 — We started about noon yesterday, 
and ran all night ; arrived at the mouth of Red River as 
the sun was about one and one-half hours high, and were 
brought to a stop by a shot from one of our gunboats on 
blockading service. None of our transports were there, 
and we began to have some misgivings. ^11 eyes were 
turned down the Mississippi, with anxiety depicted on 
many faces. About one o'clock smoke was seen coming 
up river, indicating a river steamer was on her way, and 
the prisoners began to cheer. Soon, sure enough, there 
was our flag flying within hailing distance, but we are still 
prisoners ; perhaps no exchange after all, but be turned 
back to the tender care of " Johnny Reb " again. But no. 



438 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

it proves to be the Nebraska with rebel prisoners on board. 
We landed and went aboard the Nebraska as soon as we 
could, and gave six rousing cheers for the ' Old Flag/ 
Stop and look at the comparison of the two squads of 
prisoners. Those coming from our lines for the Con- 
federacy are loaded down with clothing, boots and trunks. 
Our men are bare-footed, shirtless and hatiess ; but I 
thank God I am once more a free man. None but those 
that have been placed in like circumstances can appreciate 
the change. We were given a feast on the Nebraska. We 
had plenty of coffee, real ' Lincoln '" coffee, no parched 
rye ; and butter ! real butter, and bakers' bread ! Well ! 
I have had some good dinners before and since then, but 
that feast took the cake. Good-by to corn-dodger and 
bull-beef. It all seemed like a dream. The boys were up 
until about three o'clock next morning, singing and enjoy- 
ing themselves." 

The exchanged officers of the 42 d Regiment arrived in 
New Orleans at midnight July 23d, where they remained 
until the thirty-first, receiving two months' pay from a 
paymaster to meet their immediate wants. None of the 
officers got back their swords they were entitled to retain 
by the terms of surrender. The swords were taken from 
them by a provost-marshal at Houston, properly marked 
with each man's name, with an understanding they would 
be given up when each officer was paroled or exchanged. 
It is needless to say they were soon appropriated by any 
Confederate officer who was in need of one. 

Taking passage upon the steamer Matajizas, July 31st, 
bound for New York, after a pleasant run of seven days 
they were once more within easy communication with 
families and friends, who met them on arrival in Boston, 
August 9th, 2iia the Fall River route from New York. All 
were in tolerable fair health except Lieutenant Stowell, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 439 

who was in bad condition, and Lieutenant Cowdin, sick 
with chronic diarrhoea. An escort in waiting, with music, 
consisting of past and present officers and men of the 42d 
Regiment and the Boston Independent Fusileers, escorted 
their guests to the American House, where breakfast was 
served and a cordial welcome tendered by His Honor 
Mayor Lincoln and the military committee of the City 
Government. 

Governor Andrew could not be present, and sent the 
following letter : 

" Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
" Executive Department, 

'^Boston, August 9th, 1864. 
" Colonel W. W. Clapp, Jr., &c., (Sec. : 

" My dear Colonel, — I have this moment received your 
note of invitation to attend the breakfast at ten o'clock 
this morning, given in welcome of Colonel Burrell and his 
associates. The long captivity of those brave and patriotic 
men has earned for them every consideration, even if their 
qualities as soldiers had been less conspicuous than they 
are. In all respects, however, deserving gratitude and 
honor, and deserving all the sympathy of true and manly 
hearts for what they have suffered in our common cause, 
I shall, though absent in person, unite in heart with your 
expressions of grateful applause and welcome for these 
honored guests. My return to headquarters yesterday, 
after a valuable work of service elsewhere, leaves me, for 
the present, not an hour which during the daytime I can 
withdraw from the accumulated work which brooks no 
delay. 

" I am faithfully your friend and servant, 

"JOHN A. ANDREW." 



440 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

With repeated disasters attending expeditions to West- 
ern Louisiana and Texas, that are a part of history, and 
failures attending every attempt to permanently occupy 
such territory, the following remarks at this breakfast, 
made by Colonel Burrell, are not without reason. He 
said: "I hardly know what to say. I thank your Honor 
for your kind expression of welcome. We have suffered 
long, but I do not know as we have done more than our 
duty. I can hardly be expected to make a speech, for I 
have been living a half-civilized life among half-civilized 
people for nearly the last two years. I know our friends 
at home were doing all in their power to obtain our release, 
but fate has seemed to be always against us. For my 
soldiers and officers I can say that they have behaved with 
courage and cheerfulness ; their fortitude has been worthy 
of men of Massachusetts. They have behaved with credit 
to their state and to their country. I come home prouder 
than ever of my native city. As soon as we are somewhat 
recovered from our fatigues and sufferings, we will be 
ready to put on the harness and return to the field again. 

" I have enjoyed much opportunity of communication 
with men from all parts of the Southern Confederacy, and 
I believe that you entertain an erroneous opinion of 
them. You believe that there exists among the masses 
an extended Union sentiment. It is not so. They go 
into this war with all their heart and soul. The little 
Union feeling among the class of poor whites amounts to 
nothing. They are opposed to us, man, woman and child. 
They are fighting with the spirit of '76, for their rights, 
homes, liberties. They put up with every privation to 
sustain their army — and every man is in the army. The 
quicker we understand this the better for us. I do not 
think we shall accomplish much until we take hold of the 
work in earnest. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 44 1 

" In the section where I have been the enemy is three 
times stronger than they were two years ago. Now an 
army of 40,000 men cannot penetrate the country one 
hundred miles. They have an army of 40,000 men. They 
carry no equipage — they sling their blankets with a bit of 
cotton rope, and are all ready for an expedition. We must 
take our blankets on our shoulders — we cannot fight with 
army trains. I repeat, in order to carry on this war to a 
successful termination, we must fight them on their own 
ground and fight them in earnest." 

After this breakfast Colonel Burrell and his officers were 
escorted to Roxbury by the Roxbury Artillery Association, 
where another reception was given them by their towns- 
people. 

August loth the officers met at the Parker House, pro- 
ceeded to the State House and reported to Adjutant- 
General Schouler, then to Major Clarke, U. S. Army, to 
receive their final pay, then to Major McCafferty, U. S. 
mustering-officer, and were mustered out of service, after 
being in ''Uncle Sam's" employ about twenty-one months 
— eighteen months and twenty-one days of the time as 
prisoners of war. 



442 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 



/ CHAPTER XIX. 

In Service for One Hundred Days — Organization — 
Readville — Off for Washington — At Alexandria 
— At Great Falls — Return Home. 

A SCARE existed in Washington, caused by Con- 
federate operations under General Jubal Early, 
who threatened an invasion of Pennsylvania in order 
to mask a contemplated dash on Baltimore and Wash- 
ington.* 

Adjutant-General Schouler casually informed Adjutant 
Davis, whom he met on the street, a call had been 
received from Washington to send troops immediately for 
one hundred days' service. The adjutant had kept up a 
correspondence with all of the old line officers, for an 
ultimate purpose of again calling the regiment together 
when Colonel Burrell was exchanged. Davis mentioned 
this fact to General Schouler, who at once advanced the 
idea of again going into service and advised an attempt 

* Governor Andrew was in Washington at the time, and telegraphed his adjutant- 
general (received July 5th) as follows : " I have arranged with the Secretary of War 
that men who volunteer for one hundred days' service, as requested by him to-day, 
shall be exempted from any draff that may be ordered during such hundred days' ser- 
vice, not from any future draft, but only from such as may be ordered during the term 
of hundred days for which they are asked. I direct you, at request of Secretary, to 
issue an order calling for four thousand one-hundred-days' infantry, on the terms 
above mentioned. The details in connection with the project will not differ materially, 
otherwise, from those heretofore prescribed in like cases. I shall have another con- 
sultation to-morrow. Have sent home Peirce to-night." General Orders No. 24, 
calling for five thousand hundred-day men, was issued July 6th, 1864, by Adjutant- 
General Schouler. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 443 

to do SO. The old line officers were consulted, and, as the 
idea was favored by a majority of them, official orders 
were issued to go into camp at Readville, Mass., July 
i8th, 1864. 

The following companies were designated to compose 
the regiment : 

Company A, Captain Isaac Scott, of Roxbury ; Com- 
pany B, Captain Benjamin C. Tinkham, of Medway ; 
Company C, Captain Isaac B. White, of Boston ; Company 

D, Captain Samuel A. Waterman, of Roxbury; Company 

E, Captain Augustus Ford, of Worcester ; Company F, 
Captain Samuel S. Eddy, of Worcester; Company G, Cap- 
tain Alanson H. Ward, of Worcester ; Company H, Cap- 
tain F. M. Prouty, of Worcester; Company I, Captain 
James T. Stevens, of Dorchester; Company K, Captain 
Benjamin R. Wales, of Dorchester. 

Active measures were at once instituted to clothe, 
arm with Enfield rifles, and equip these companies, 
to be in readiness for a quick departure. Complete 
uniforms, with equipments, were issued at Readville. 
Many companies went into camp several days previous 
to July 18th, gaining recruits every day until ready 
for muster in for service. Captain Scott failed to 
recruit more than thirty men. Captain Prouty failed to 
recruit his company, although at one time it promised 
well ; from some cause his men scattered to other 
companies or went home. Companies commanded by 
Captains French and Stewart, already m.ustered into 
service, were assigned to the regiment as Companies 
A and H. 

The first regimental morning report was made up July 
20th, and showed a strength of thirty-five officers, seven 
hundred and thirty-eight enlisted men, present and absent. 



444 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The regiment was ready for marching orders July 23d, 
with the following strength : 







Officers. 


Enlisted men. Mustered in. 


Field and Staff, 


5 


3 July 22d. 


Company 


A, 


3 


95 


' 14th. 




B, 


3 


81 


' 22d. 




c, 


3 


93 


' 14th. 




D, 


3 


97 


' 20th. 




E, 


3 


90. 


' 22d. 




F, 


3 


98 


' 15 th. 




G, 


3 


87 


' 2ISt. 




H, 


3 


88 


' 16th. 




I, 


3 


84 


' 19th. 




K, 


3 


90 


' i8th. 



Total, 



35 



906 



The roster of the regiment was as follows : 

Colonel — Isaac S.Burrell. 

Lieutenant-Colonel — Joseph Stedman. 

Major — Frederick G. Stiles. 

Adjutant — Charles A. Davis. 

Quartermaster — Alonzo I. Hodsdon. 

Surgeon — Albert B. Robinson. 

Sergeant-Major — Jediah P. Jordan. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant — Charles E. Noyes. 

Commissary-Sergeant — Augustus C. Jordan. 

Hospital-Steward — Robert White, Jr. 

Principal-Musician — Thomas Bowe. 

Company A — Captain, Warren French; Lieutenants, 
Charles W. Baxter and Joseph M. Thomas. 

Company B — Captain, Benjamin C. Tinkham ; Lieu- 
tenants, George W. Ballou and George E. Fuller. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 445 

Company C — Captain, Isaac B. White ; Lieutenants, 
Joseph Sanderson, Jr., and David C. Smith. 

Company D — Captain, Samuel A. Waterman; Lieu- 
tenants, George H. Bates and Almon D. Hodges, Jr. 

Company E — Captain, Augustus Ford; Lieutenants, 
James Conner and Frank H. Cook. 

Company F — Captain, Samuel S. Eddy; Lieutenants, 
Henry J. Jennings and Edward I. Galvin. 

Company G — Captain, Alanson H. Ward ; Lieutenants, 
Moses A. Aldrich and E. Lincoln Shattuck. 

Company H — Captain, George M. Stewart; Lieutenants, 
Julius M. Lyon and Joseph T. Spear, 

Company I — Captain, James T. Stevens; Lieutenants, 
Edward Merrill, Jr., and Charles A. Arnold. 

Company K — Captain, Benjamin R. Wales; Lieuten- 
ants, Alfred G. Gray and Charles P. Hawley. 

Officers who resigned and did not accompany the regi- 
ment on this second term were : Quartermaster Burrell, 
Surgeons Hitchcock and Heintzelman, Chaplain Sanger, 
Sergeant-Major Bosson, Commissary-Sergeant Courtney, 
Hospital-Steward Wood, Principal-Musician Neuert."^ Of 
the thirty line officers who served during this second term. 
Captains Tinkham, White, Waterman and Ford, Lieuten- 
ants Sanderson, Ballou, Smith, Cook and Merrill were 
with the regiment in 1862 and 1863. Colonel Burrell 
arrived home, from Texas, August 9th, was mustered in 
for this second term August loth, and reported at Alex- 
andria September ist. 

The Dorchester Cornet Band volunteered to enlist and 
become the regimental band. The members were : Leader, 
Thomas Bowe ; Privates Conrad H. Gurlack, Company 

*Neuert was known as " Dick." By mistake he was enlisted and borne on the 
rolls as Richard A. Neuert. Young in years, he never thought of correcting the error, 
and retained the name when he reenlisted in the nth Battery as a bugler. His right 
name was Charles A. Neuert. 



446 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

A ; Perham Orcutt, Company B ; Horace A. Allyn, George 
Burleigh, William A. Cowles, John W. Capen, Nathaniel 
Clark, Lewis Eddy, Edward Lovejoy, Fred. H. Macintosh, 
Henry B. Sargent, Phillip Sawyer, Andrew J. Wheeler, of 
Company D ; Wells F. Johnson, Company H ; Jesse K. 
Webster, Company I ; William A. Cobb and Edward H. 
Marshall, of Company K. 

Two men deserted at Readville, viz.: Private Frederick 
D. Goodwin, Company C, July 15th; Private Robert 
Bryden, Company D, July 2 2d. 

The rank and file were a true representative body of 
Massachusetts citizen soldiery. Three-fourths of the men 
were born in the State ; seventy men were foreign born. 
Men from a great variety of professions and trades enlisted. 
About one-half of the regiment were as follows : one hun- 
dred and seventy-six salesmen, book-keepers and clerks ; 
twenty-seven students ; one hundred and twenty farmers ; 
one hundred and twenty-four journeymen boot and shoe 
workmen ; twenty-seven mill operatives. 

The old regimental colors were received in camp July 
23d, and under orders to take transports for Washington, 
promptly at five o'clock a.m., July 24th, the regiment left 
Readville by special train for Boston, and marched down 
State Street, about half-past six o'clock, to Battery Wharf, 
where Companies C, D and E, two hundred and seventy- 
one men, under command of Major Stiles, embarked on 
steamer Mo7ita7ik. The other companies and the band, 
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, embarked 
on steamer McClellan. At nine o'clock both steamers sailed 
for Washington, and arrived there at noon July 28th, after 
a good passage, without an important event occurring. 
This landing the regiment in Washington in ten days 
after being ordered into camp to recruit and organize can 
be called quick work. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 447 

Reporting to General Augur, commanding Department 
of Washington, the regiment was sent to Brigadier-General 
Slough, Military Governor of Alexandria, who ordered it 
into camp on Shuter's Hill, near Fort Ellsworth, about 
one mile from the city. On the morning of July 29th, 
after breakfast was eaten at the Soldiers' Rest, in Alex- 
andria, the regiment marched to the ground assigned and 
occupied log huts, built by other troops when stationed on 
this hill. In Slough's command were Battery H, Indiana 
Light Artillery, one battalion First District Columbia Vol- 
unteers, the Second District Columbia Volunteers, the 
Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, the Twelfth Regiment Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps and the Forty-Second Massachusetts 
Volunteers. These troops were soon organized into a 
provisional-brigade and attached to the Twenty-Second 
Army Corps. 

Details for guards and for provost duty were immedi- 
ately ordered by General Slough, as follows : July 29th — 
Two officers and one hundred and fifteen men for provost 
duty. July 31st — Eighteen men every day for patrol duty 
in Alexandria ; thirty-one men to relieve a detachment 
Veteran Reserve Corps at Sickel's Barracks Hospital. 
July 30th — Lieutenants Sanderson, Company C, and 
Spear, Company H, were detached for duty at head- 
quarters provost -marshal -general, Defences South of 
Potomac. 

At the close of July there was present for duty thirty- 
two officers and eight hundred and seventy-three men ; 
twenty-eight men sick ; three officers and six men absent. 

During August the officers and men were kept busy 
at drill, on guard, provost and patrol duty, which inured 
them to endure fatigue and become acquainted with the 
tedious side of a soldier's life. Train-guards were fur- 
nished for trains on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, 



448 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

to protect working and construction parties in constant 
danger of attacks from guerrillas and obstructions placed 
upon the track to delay trains ; at Fairfax Station, August 
15th, the enemy greased the rails, and a train could not 
proceed — the enemy decamped, not waiting for the train- 
guard to get a blow at them. Details were sent to Burke's 
Station and other places for logs, used to build additional 
huts for the men. What duty was done in August is shown 
by the following details, ordered by General Slough : 

August 2d — One hundred and thirteen men detailed 
each day for grand-guard line. 

August 6th — Two officers and one hundred and fifty- 
seven men relieved the Twelfth Regiment Veteran Reserve 
Corps, in Alexandria ; next day this detachment was relieved 
by the Second Regiment District Columbia Volunteers. 

August 7th — A regimental camp guard of fifty men was 
established. 

August 7th — Seventy-five men for train-guards to Fair- 
fax Station, detailed each day until the twenty-third. 

August 4th — ^Seventeen men were detached for perma- 
nent duty on the military police in Alexandria. 

August 28th — Seventy-five men were detached for dut}^ 
as hospital attendants in the general hospitals in Alexan- 
dria. The hospitals were full of patients. 

Details for August were : 

4th — Sergeant Alfred Davenport, Company K, clerk' 
at headquarters Department Washington, Twenty-Second 
Army Corps. Relieved October 29th. 

For duty at general court-martial rooms in Alexandria : 
ist — Private George S. Partridge, Company B, orderly. 
3d — Corporal Thomas J. Rooney, Company B, clerk. 
4th — Corporal Edwin H. Holbrook, Company B, clerk. 
— Private Alfred Noon, Company H, orderly. — Private 
Richard M. Sabin, Company G, orderly. 9th — Private 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



449 



Ellery C. Bartlett, Company K, clerk. 13th — Private J. 
H. S. Pearson, Company C, clerk. 

On detached service at headquarters provost-marshal- 
general : I St — Private H. W. Tolman, Company A, orderly. 
2d — Private William S. French, Company F, orderly. — 
Private Alvin S. Pratt, Company F, orderly. loth — Pri- 
vate Jno. R. Graham, Company A, orderly. 24th — Pri- 
vate William G. Kidder, Company C, clerk. — Corporal 
George Dunbar, Company D, clerk. 

On detached service at headquarters military governor : 
4th — Private Herbert W. Hitchcock, Company H, orderly. 
5th — Private Fred. S. Dickinson, Company G, orderly, 
nth — Private Hiram E. Smith, Company H, clerk. 13th 

— Private J. Clark Reed, Company C, clerk. — Private 
Thomas J. McKay, Company F, clerk. 

The officers on detached service were : 2d — Lieutenant 
Shattuck, Company G, on permanent duty with city patrol 
in Alexandria. 9th — Lieutenant Hodges, Company D, on 
permanent duty at headquarters provost-marshal-general, 
loth — Lieutenant Thomas, Company A, on permanent 
duty in command of guard at Hunting Creek Bridge block- 
house, under the orders of provost-marshal-general. 12th 

— Lieutenant Ballou, Company B, was detailed for per- 
manent duty with the military police of Alexandria, to 
relieve Lieutenant Shattuck, who was not active and 
experienced enough to suit General Slough. 

The officers detailed for general court-martial duty were : 
Captains Tinkham, Waterman, Ford and Ward, from July 
31st; Major Stiles, Lieutenants Baxter and Jennings, from 
August 6th. 

The enlisted men on detailed daily duty were : Private 
W. A. G. Hooton, Company A, nurse at regimental hospital ; 
Private Mathias F. Chaffin, Company E, nurse at regimental 
hospital j Private Albert H. Newhall, Company E, nurse 



45 O HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

at regimental hospital'; Private Henry C. Chenery, Com- 
pany F, nurse at regimental hospital ; Private Seth Albee, 
Company E, nurse at regimental hospital ; Private Simon C. 
Spear, Company C, nurse at regimental hospital ; Private 
Ezra Abbott, Company A, chief wagoner ; Private George 
A. Harwood, Company B, wagoner; Private Thomas Belton, 
Company C, wagoner ; Private Elma H. French, Company 
F, wagoner; Private Samuel W. Whittemore, Company I, 
wagoner ; Private George W. Abbott, Company I, wagoner; 
Privates Oliver C. Andrews, Alonzo D. Crockett, Mark 
Heathcote, of Company G, as a permanent guard at the 
reservoir in rear of camp near Fort Ellsworth, from August 
6th ; Privates William G. Kidder, Company C, James Allen, 
Company E, Hermion J. Gilbert and Charles E. Chase, of 
Company F, orderlies at regimental headquarters ; Private 
Henry R. Gilmore, Company F, acting drum-major. 

It was necessary to discipline one man in August — Pri- 
vate Samuel Young, Company E, for firing his musket 
without permission or orders. He had to carry a forty- 
pound log of wood tied to his back for a stated number of 
hours each day for two days. 

At the close of August there was present for duty : 
twenty-nine officers, seven hundred and forty-eight men ; 
one officer, forty-two men sick. Absent : five officers, one 
hundred and seven men on detached service, four men 
sick, two men in arrest. 

Duty in September was about the same as in August, 
the regiment constantly furnishing details of men for grand- 
guard and other guards. Drills were maintained with what 
few men were in camp and some progress made in this 
direction, but all efforts to advance the regiment in drill 
could not be satisfactory to officers in command, because 
of this absence of men each day. 

September 14th — Company G, Captain Ward, went 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 45 I 

on duty as a permanent guard at the Soldiers' Rest in 
Alexandria. 

September i6th — All troops in the command were 
paraded to witness an execution of a private Fourth Mary- 
land Volunteers, shot for desertion, at eleven a.m., in the 
open field northwest of Sickel Barracks Hospital. The 
negroes in and around Alexandria made a gala occasion 
of the affair, with tents pitched near the spot for sales of 
cake, pies, lemonade, etc. So far as appearances went 
the man to be shot, a thick-set fellow, with heavy, black 
whiskers, was more indifferent to his fate than the soldiers 
formed to occupy three sides of a square, obliged to be 
unwilling witnesses. On the open side were gathered a 
curious crowd of colored people. The condemned man 
was marched upon the ground, a band playing a dirge. 
He was followed by a faithful Newfoundland dog, who had 
to be taken away when his master took position in front 
of his coffin, face to the firing party. In a speech he con- 
fessed to being a professional bounty-jumper, worth at 
that moment near twenty thousand dollars, the proceeds 
of his work in jumping sixteen bounties. When the detail 
of soldiers fired upon him he fell lengthwise upon his 
cofiin. The troops were then filed past him, and had just 
commenced the movement when signs of life were shown, 
necessitating a second file of men to be ordered up and 
put another volley into him. 

At nine o'clock p. m., September 22d, orders were 
received to march four companies at once to Great Falls, 
on the Potomac, above Washington, and relieve the Eighty- 
Fourth N. Y. S. V. Militia, on picket duty for protection of 
the water works. This order came from headquarters 
Department Washington, and urged promptness in its 
execution. A guide was also sent to pilot the detachment. 
Companies B, C, D and E, with enough detailed men to 



452 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

fill up the ranks, with three days' rations, and forty routids 
of ammunition in the boxes, were at once started on a march 
of about twenty-five miles, under command of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Stedman. This march was not made in a manner 
creditable to the regiment. At first it was believed a fight 
was in progress or imminent, and while such belief lasted 
the men should have been kept well in hand to be of any 
use. The facts are : a halt was made about one o'clock 
A.M., and the men slept on the ground until after daylight, 
and then straggled into Great Falls during the afternoon 
and evening in a manner not suggestive of a well-conducted 
march. Fortunately no fight took place, and no harm 
resulted. Officers and men of this Eighty-Fourth New 
York (an Irish regiment) were found loitering around a 
tavern, more or less under the effects of liquor. This 
tavern was kept by a Mr. Jackson, brother to the Jackson 
who killed Colonel Ellsworth in Alexandria at the com- 
mencement of hostilities. " 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman reported on the twenty- 
fourth that so far as he could ascertain the duty at Great 
Falls w^ould be to take care of themselves as well as they 
could, to keep a few pickets out on the roads leading to 
his camp, with a few men on the canal to prevent smug- 
gling. The colonel Eighty-Fourth New York said he never 
had any orders, and acted as his judgment dictated in all 
matters at the post ; he never made any reports to any 
one, and had been visited by a staff-officer but once. 
Stedman also reported the place extremely unhealthy, 
with chills and fever a prevailing complaint. Stedman's 
strength was then three hundred and fifty-six men. The 
Eighty-Fourth numbered six hundred and fifty men, and 
did have, at one time, two hundred and fifty men sick. 

Stedman wrote Colonel Burrell, on the twenty-fifth, as 
follows : " Captain Stewart has arrived, and I learn that 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



453 



arrangements have been made for four companies to 
remain here permanently, and that the balance of the 
men belonging to these four companies are soon to be 
sent here. Allow me to inquire if the balance of the 
officers have been thought of — viz., Lieutenant Sanderson, 
Company C, Lieutenant Ballou, Company B, and Lieu- 
tenant Hodges, Company D ? I cannot get along without 
the full complement of officers for these companies, and I 
trust they will be relieved at once and ordered to report 
to me at this post. I shall be obliged to have one for 
adjutant and one for quartermaster, thus leaving me only 
ten others for duty ; hence the necessity of these officers 
■ above named being sent. 

" We shall have to secure some transportation here, but 
as yet I do not know what arrangements we can make for 
this necessity. We have a post-commissary here, but have 
to go eleven miles for soft bread. The nearest post- 
quartermaster is six miles away, at Muddy Branch. After 
a few days we can make the men quite comfortable, but 
the place is not a very agreeable one to be in." 

Company C, Captain White, was sent to Orcutt's Cross 
Roads, three miles away, September 30th, where was 
stored a quantity of quartermaster's property. Guerrillas 
were operating in the vicinity. A stockade was set on fire 
and destroyed by them, and an attempt made to blow up 
the aqueduct, frustrated by tavern-keeper Jackson, who 
was well known to the Confederates and on good terms 
with them. General Sheridan, by his operations in the 
Shenandoah Valley, caused a lull in the fun carried on by 
these guerrillas, so that the Forty- Second Massachusetts 
detachment did not have much to do beyond picket and 
guard duty. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman remained at Great Falls 
until October 15th, when he was ordered back to his regi- 



454 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

ment with three companies. Captain Tinkham, with Com- 
pany B, was left at the post. A suggestion from Colonel 
Burrell, October i8th, to build a stockade, as the position 
invited an attack, brought the following reply : 

" Headquarters Company B, 42D Mass. Vols., 
"Great Falls, Md., October 19th, 1864. 
" Colonel^ — I received your dispatch of the eighteenth, 
for which I am very grateful. My company is small, and 
what men I have are getting sick very fast, so that I have 
not men enough to carry out your advice. However, I 
will do the best I can, and shall not leave here until 
I know what I leave for. There are several of my com- 
pany still in Alexandria, whom I wish could be sent to 
me. Would like to have General Slough informed of my 
situation. 

" Very respectfully yours, 

"B. C. TINKHAM, 

" Captain commanding postJ^ 

The enemy began to make trouble immediately after 
the three companies left. Guerrillas would stop canal 
boats, untie the horses and make off with them, until, this 
nuisance was partly abated by the use of old, worn-out 
mules that did not present such temptation. The canalJ 
traffic was seriously interrupted, and caused Captain* 
Tinkham to picket the canal for two miles, until ordered 
back to his regiment October 28th. Pennsylvania troopsj 
relieved Company B, and a short time after were attacked] 
by the enemy. 

Cases for discipline in September w^ere as follows: ist 
— Private Martin Monighan, Company E, for firing his 
musket without permission, was sentenced to carry a forty- 
pound log of wood tied to his back for a stated numbei 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 455 

of hours each day for three days. 17th — Corporal Pond, 
Company B, and three privates on duty with him in Alex- 
andria, were sent to that city, by orders from General 
Slough, to serve sentences for neglect of duty. 27th — 
Private Elisha Atwood, Company A, was sent to Alexan- 
dria for confinement in the slave pen, for neglect of duty. 
30th — Corporal William Bacon, Company A, was reduced 
to the ranks for intoxication, by regimental Special Orders 
No. 78. 

This is not a bad record for a raw regiment of short- 
term men. A practice had been in vogue for captains to 
assume the power to order punishment of men in their 
companies guilty of trifling indiscretions. Captain French 
was noted for this stretch of power. This was stopped by 
the colonel on assuming command. He maintained that 
no man should be punished without a hearing. 

Details in September were as follows : 

On detached service at headquarters military governor : 
6th — Private Sidney W. Kno wles, Company C, clerk. 2 oth 

— Corporal John Stetson, Jr., Company K, clerk. — Pri- 
vate Herbert W. Fay, Company F, clerk. — Private Edward 
S. Averill, Company B, clerk. 22d — Private Frederick 
A. Clark, Company K, clerk. — Private Christopher F. 
Snelling, Company K, clerk. 

On detached service at general court-martial rooms in 
Alexandria: ist — Private Ansel F. Temple, Company T, 
clerk. 13th — Private Davis W. Howard, Company I, clerk. 

— Private Edward L. Harvey, Company B, clerk. — Private 
Benjamin W. Kenyon, Company E, clerk. — Private 
James L. Martin, Company C, clerk. — Private Arthur 
E. Hotchkiss, Company B, clerk. — Private William L. 
Gage, Company I, clerk. — Private George E. Sparr, 
Company H, orderly. 14th — Private Charles Curtis, 
Company D, clerk. 



456 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

On detailed duty with the regiment: 7th — Corporal 
James L. Prouty, Company D, clerk at headquarters. 14th 

— Privates W. F. Adams, W. H. S. Ritchie, George E. 
Buttrick, of Company A, were placed on permanent guard 
at the reservoir, relieving Privates Edgerton, Heathcote 
and Andrews, of Company G. i6th — Private George L. 
Simpson, Company F, hospital attendant. 21st — Private 
George W. Brooks, Company K, hospital attendant. 24th 

— Private Albert S. Barpee, Company E, hospital attend- 
ant. 29th — Private Ezra K. Garvin, Company F, with 
quartermaster. 

Officers on detached service in September were : Lieuten- 
ants Sanderson and Spear on permanent duty with grand- 
guard, a line of sentinels stationed between the Forty- 
Second camp and Alexandria. Lieutenants Hodges and 
Ballou on permanent duty with provost-marshal-general. 
Lieutenant Thomas with a permanent guard at Hunting 
Creek Bridge, where an artillery block-house was built. 
Lieutenant Hawley was detached on mounted patrol ser- 
vice, in answer to a request from General Slough for 
an experienced cavalry-officer. Captain Ward, Lieutenants 
Aldrich and Shattuck, Company G, on guard at Soldier's 
Rest since September 14th. On detached service at 
Great Falls were Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, Captains 
Tinkham, White, Waterman and Ford, Lieutenants Fuller, 
Smith, Bates, Conner and Cook. Lieutenant Galvin was 
absent in Philadelphia on sick leave. 

At the close of September there was present for duty : 
seventeen officers, three hundred and seventy-eight men ; 
twenty-six men sick. Absent : eighteen officers, four 
hundred and sixty men on detached service ; one officer, 
twenty-two men sick ; three men in arrest. 

There was no chance for any camp fun in October, for 
officers and men were constantly on duty, day and night, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 457 

in obedience to orders for guards, patrols and pickets, that 
came thick and fast. Details of men were called for by 
mounted orderlies, with verbal orders, at all hours of the 
day and night, in addition to details mentioned later on. 
Adjutant Davis, not in good health, manfully stood to his 
duty in exceptionally trying circumstances. To fill these 
constant requisitions from among grumbling men in a raw 
regiment, already overworked, was not an easy matter. To 
do so, men who just reported in camp from some long tour 
of guard or patrol service were obliged to again depart from 
camp, swearing like troopers, on a like service. After 
four companies left for Great Falls, members of the band 
were made to resume duty in the ranks and go on the 
regular camp guard ; at one time not relieved for sixteen 
days, men were so scarce and the difficulty so great to 
comply with these orders. 

Duty done by the regiment, required by written orders, 
was: September 29th and 30th — One officer and forty 
men sent to guard stores to Fairfax Station. October 2d 

— One officer and fifty men as train-guard on Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad. October 2d — Captain Ward, with 
fifty men, to guard a telegraph construction party running 
a line of wire from Manassas or Warrenton Junction, on 
the Manassas Gap Railroad. Captain Ward and his men 
had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry, on the fourth, 
near Gainesville, and drove them back without loss. Octo- 
ber 3d — One officer and fifty men, with detachments First 
and Second D. C. Volunteers, as guard for a construction 
train on Orange and Alexandria Railroad. October 4th 

— One officer and forty men on same service. October 
5th — One officer and fifty men on same service. Octo- 
ber 5th — Seven men as permanent guard at coal wharf. 
October 6th — One officer and twenty-five men to guard 
a special train. October 12th — One officer and thirty 



458 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

picked men on duty for three days with mounted patrols 
and pickets, to be relieved every three days. This order 
was in force until October 27th. October 13th — One 
officer and twenty-five men for train-guard. October 17th 
— Four officers and one hundred men, with two days' 
rations, were sent every day, until October 27th, for train- 
guards. Of this detail two officers and fifty men went on 
duty at 3.45 A.iM., and two officers and fifty men at ten a.m. 

These details were in addition to the regular camp- 
guard, men for grand-guard duty and men for the pickets 
stationed outside the grand-guard line. Nearly all the 
trains were freighted with supplies for General Sheridan, 
after communication with him was opened. Every two or 
three miles along the railroad were guard-stations, in block- 
houses, on account of the guerrillas who infested the line 
of road. None of the Forty-Second detachments had a 
chance to test their mettle with the enemy, except the 
slight skirmish by Captain Ward's men. At Rectortown 
one train came along just in time to allow the Forty- 
Second guard to help get a cavalry-post out of an unpleas- 
ant position ; the enemy retreated without a fight. 

Details in October for daily duty with the regiment 
were: ist — Private Peter Broso, Company F, on duty 
with quartermaster, ist — Private A. W. Mitchell, Com- 
pany A, orderly at headquarters, ist — Private Edwin 
H. Alger, Company D, as wagoner. 

One case for discipline occurred : Corporal Albert F. 
Burnham, Company A, was reduced to the ranks October 
24th, for leaving camp without leave. On an appeal for a 
hearing, made by Burnham, an inquiry was held in his 
case by officers detailed for the purpose. They justified 
the degradation. 

The officers detailed on court-martial duty in September 
were: Lieutenant- Colonel Stedman, Captains French, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 459 

Eddy, Stewart, Stevens and Wales, and Lieutenant Gray. 
Every captain in the regiment, except White, did service 
on general court-martial duty. Major Stiles was con- 
stantly on general court-martial duty by details of August 
6th and September 20th, and not relieved until October 
15th, when the following order was issued : 

" Headquarters Military Governor, 

"Alexandria, Va., October 15th, 1864. 
" General Orders No. 84. 

" I — The general court-martial convened by paragraph 
2, General Orders No. 57, headquarters Military Governor, 
Alexandria, Va., dated September 20th, 1864, of which 
Major Frederick G. Stiles, Forty-Second Regiment Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, is president, is hereby dissolved. 

" 2 — This court has since its first organization (August 
8th, 1864), disposed of over six hundred cases, and the 
general commanding desires to compliment the members 
composing it for the energetic, faithful and satisfactory 
manner in which they have transacted the business referred 
to them. 

" By command of 

"BRIGADIER-GENERAL SLOUGH, 

" W. M. GWYNNE, 

" Captain^ and A. A. A. Gefieral.''^ 

At the close of October there was present for duty (all 
officers and men were relieved from detached or detailed 
service) thirty-five officers, seven hundred and ninety-nine 
men ; one officer, seventy-five men sick. Absent : nine 
men sick in hospitals. 

The term of service expired October 29th. A request 
was made for transportation via Baltimore, Philadelphia, 
New York and Boston to place of muster out, instead of 



460 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

returning home by a sea voyage. The regiment vacated 
camp and quartered in the Soldier's Rest, Alexandria, 
October 28th, until relieved from duty in the command. 
This was on Sunday, October 30th, after a review by 
General Slough. Monday morning, thirty-first, the regi- 
ment marched to Washington, and was received by Presi- 
dent Lincoln in front of the White House at nine o'clock. 
Cheers from the men, a few remarks by the President, and 
then the march was resumed to the depot to take cars 
en-route home, arriving in Boston late on Thursday even- 
ing, November 3d, and quartered in Faneuil Hall. After 
breakfast next morning the regiment marched to Boston 
Common and was there dismissed, to assemble on Friday, 
November nth, for muster out of service.* 

This journey home was full of discomfort for those 
officers who did their duty. It was a time of great polit- 
ical excitement in New York City. On this account the 
regiment retained its arms, and twenty rounds of ammuni- 
tion was in each cartridge-box. In New York the regiment 
remained at the Battery all day, and marched up Broadway 
about five P.M. Crowds of people lined the street and 
cheered alternately for Lincoln and McClellan, the men 
answering these cheers impartially to avoid trouble. While 
in Forty-Second Street, where the men remained until late 
next morning, when a train was made up to proceed on to 
Boston, there was bad behaviour by various men of the 
regiment, who became drunk and disorderly. Some of 
these men fired their muskets, which, coupled with a fire 
that broke out in the vicinity, was sufficient to cause con- 

* Before dismissal on Boston Common, Governor Andrew requested Colonel 
Burrell to take the telegraphic address of every officer, and instruct his officers and 
men (the men retained their arms until mustered out of service) to hold themselves in 
readiness for further service. The Governor telegraphed to New York he had a 
reliable regiment, just arrived home, at the service of the military authorities, if 
wanted to preserve order. No further service was required. 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 46 1 

siderable alarm among people who resided near. Much 
blame is attachable to officers for their lukewarm endeavors 
to stop this unsoldierlike conduct. 

About one hundred sick men were brought home, some 
of whom ought not to have left Alexandria, but they were 
anxious to go home with their comrades. To properly 
look out for these men was no easy matter. A delay of 
several hours occurred in Baltimore before transportation 
across the city could be found for the sick, Colonel 
Burrell positively refusing to move his regiment and leave 
them to follow after, as he was advised to do by some of 
his officers. Orders were given that in case any sick man 
was obliged to be left at any place en-route, one man was 
to be detailed to remain with him. 

At Alexandria the aquecluct was out of order, and well- 
water was used for drinking purposes ; but so bad was 
this water, a limited quantity of beer was allowed to be 
sold in camp. Train-guards, hurriedly called for and 
immediately sent away, had no time to fill haversacks with 
ample rations, often obliged to start with hard bread as 
their chief eatable. Of course, this had an effect on the 
men, a large proportion being under twenty-five years of 
age, many of them under twenty years, who did not have 
the advantage of a few months in a camp of instruction 
and get well seasoned to a soldier's life before they were 
called upon to endure the arduous and exacting service 
they saw in Virginia.* During the last weeks in Sep- 
tember and through October there was an average of fifty 
men sick in camp, and forty men absent sick in Alex- 
andria hospitals. 

*The colonel called the attention of General Slough to the fact that his regiment 
was overworked, and flesh and blood could not stand the strain without some rest, 
which the general admitted, but claimed he could rely on the Massachusetts men, 
while some raw Pennsylvania men in his command (there were several full regiments 
just an-ived), were not rehable. 



462 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

The regimental hospital tent, of limited accommoda- 
tions, was always full, and all surplus sick men who 
required hospital care were sent to Alexandria. The 
weather was favorable in August and September ; October 
was stormy, and nights cold. 

The regiment lost sixteen men by death during this 
term of service. The bodies of those men who died in 
Alexandria were sent home. The deaths were : 

August 14th — Private George H. Rich, Company B, in 
third division hospital, from accidental wounds while on 
guard. 

August 24th — Private Richard M. Sabin, Company G, 
in third division hospital, from acute dysentery. 

September nth — Private Edwin A. Grant, Company 
B, in third division hospital, from typhoid fever. 

September nth — Private Lyman Tucker, Company F, 
in regimental hospital, from typhoid fever. 

September i8th — Private Samuel Stone, Company F, 
in third division hospital, from typhoid fever. 

September 20th — Private George G. Harrington, Com- 
pany F, in third division hospital, from typhoid fever. 

September 23d — Private Herman J. Gilbert, Company 

F, in third division hospital, from typhoid fever. 
September 25th — Private Edward H. Aldrich, Company 

G, in Soldier's Rest Hospital, from typho-malarial fever. 
(Aldrich was a student, borne on the rolls, but never 
mustered in.) 

October 4th — Private Patrick Riley, Company G, in 
third division hospital, from pyaemia. Riley was shot in 
the leg by a secessionist of Alexandria, on August 27th. 
Amputation was necessary, from which he did not recover. 

October 5th — Private Henry H. Lowell, Company F, 
in second division hospital, from typhoid fever. 

October 8th — Private Walter Foster, 2d., Company D, 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 463 

in second division hospital, from suicide by drowning; 
insanity. 

October 24th — Private William T. Cutler, Company F, 
in third division hospital, from typhoid fever. 

October 26th — Private Calvin S. Haynes, Company C, 
Slough Barracks Hospital, from typhoid fever. 

October 30th — Private John J. Bisbee, Company H, 
Slough Barracks Hospital, from chronic diarrhoea. 

November 7th — Private Thomas E. Flemming, Com- 
pany A, at Roxbury, Mass., from sore leg. 

November 17th — Private William H. Perry, Company 
A, at Boston, Mass., from consumption. 

There were eight men discharged from service, by Major- 
General Augur, Twenty-Second Army Corps, for disability, 
viz. : Sergeant William H. Alexander, Company C, Sep- 
tember loth; Private Willard L. Studley, Company D, 
September loth; Private Wendell Davis, Company H, 
September 13th ; Corporal Jerome P. Thurber, Company 
G, September 13th ; Private Nathan Washburne, Company 
C, September i6th; Private Jason Whitaker, Company E, 
September 19th; Private Henry W. Dean, Company I, 
September 20th; Private Albert E. Frost, Company K, 
September 20th. 

One man reenlisted for one year in the Thirty-Eighth 
Massachusetts Volunteers : Private Andrew C. Hale, Com- 
pany H, September 8th. 

By regimental General Orders No. iii, issued Novem- 
ber 6th, at Roxbury, Mass., the following men were relieved 
from detailed daily duty at headquarters, with a compli- 
mentary notice for their faithful service : Private Ezra 
Abbott, Company A, chief wagoner ; Private James Allen, 
Company E, orderly ; Private Ellery C. Bartlett, Company 
K, clerk. 

As Chaplain Sanger could not get permission from his 



464 HISTORY OF THE FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 

church people in Webster, Mass., to serve one hundred 
days with his regiment, an attempt was made to obtain a 
commission for Second-Lieutenant Galvin, Company F, 
a regularly ordained clergyman from Brookfield, Mass., 
who was unanimously elected by his brother officers, 
August loth, to fill that position. Through unavoidable 
delays and informality in the proper papers, no prog- 
ress was made towards securing his appointment until 
late in September. Lieutenant Galvin was then absent 
in Philadelphia on sick leave, and it was doubtful if 
he would be able to rejoin his regiment before the 
term of service expired. Difficulties also existed in 
obtaining a muster dated back, so his appointment was 
abandoned. He officiated as chaplain for a few weeks 
only. 

One payment was made to the regiment, the last week in 
September, when the men were paid for July and August. 
The following ladies, wives of officers, boarded at a hotel 
in Alexandria, and saw what constitutes camp life in time 
of war: Mrs. Burrell, Mrs. Stedman, Mrs. Stiles, Mrs. 
Robinson, Mrs. Ford. 

This brief sketch is sufficient to prove that the one- 
hundred-day men did not have a picnic during their 
service. To be sure, the regiment did not get into an 
action : a stroke of good luck. The^jj/arious train-guard 
detachments were liable to have a fight at any moment, 
and, until back in camp, were kept ready for such a 
contingency. 

In conclusion the writer would add : Let no man who 
enlisted in a three years regiment sneer at the nine 
months troops, or those who served a shorter term. A 
large number reenlisted later on in other organizations, 
and served to the end of the war. Their previous service 
was of great benefit wherever they went ; in fact, they 



MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 465 

were not raw recruits. The three years man who served 
continuously with his colors is a rarity. 

It does not follow that every man who enlisted in the 
army is entitled to credit for so doing. "Bummers " and 
shirks were plenty. When a thousand men are got together 
there must be a percentage of this element among them. 
The most worthy and deserving men do not have much to 
say about their army experience, and never drag it into 
prominence for selfish reasons. 

No undue importance is intended in naming men who 
were on detached daily duty as clerks, orderlies, etc.; such 
places were considered " soft berths," although much hard 
work was done by many of the detailed men. The soldier 
who remained with his colors, and did duty like a man, is 
the one to whom most praise is due. 



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